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In early 2020, due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia, all higher education institutions had to switch from face-to-face learning to open and distance learning (ODL) method. The main purpose was to prevent any further spread of the COVID-19 virus. This study aimed to identify factors carrying impacts on students’ satisfaction in learning calculus using ODL method. The sample consists of 224 students of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perak Branch, Tapah Campus who took calculus subjects using ODL method during the COVID-19 lockdown in Malaysia. Five factors are found to influence students’ satisfaction towards ODL method: student-lecturer interaction; lecturer performance; ODL course evaluation; design; and technical. By using partial least square (PLS)–SEM method, the results showed that lecturer performance has a large effect size on students’ satisfaction. Technical and design factors have medium effect sizes, while the ODL course evaluation and student-lecturer interaction have small effect sizes. This research provided useful insights for an effective planning of online calculus courses by considering all factors that influence students’ satisfaction.

In this work, we examine the quantum features of a multi-waveguide nonlinear coupler exploiting the second-and third-order nonlinearities. The considered system contains four identical channels, each with a single fundamental transverse mode. The essence of this type of nonlinear coupler is to examine the effect of two or more competing nonlinearities on the generated nonclassical features in this class of devices. Here, we consider the case of second harmonic generation, wherein the fundamental harmonic (FH) fields are up-converted in pairs to double-frequency second harmonic (SH) fields, which are then evanescently coupled with the fields from other Kerr nonlinear waveguides. Using the positive P representation of the phase space, the time-evolution of the density matrix could be mapped to the corresponding Fokker–Planck equation of a classical quasiprobability distribution. Using Langevin stochastic equation, an exact representation of the system in phase space led to the demonstration of sub-Poissonian property, squeezing, and entanglement. With more effective squeezing achieved in all channel waveguides, the present system with χ(2)–χ(3) interaction can be a more efficient alternative to other versions of nonlinear couplers such as the quantum optical dimer (QOD) and Kerr nonlinear coupler (KNC). Furthermore, such a structure offers more flexibility in coupled-mode interactions in the form of correlation between the modes in different waveguides. This provides a better mechanism for the generation of enhanced nonclassical effects.

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