Developing a Measuring Tool for Learners’ Satisfaction in Synchronous Learning Environments

Abstract

The challenges faced by the language learners of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in synchronous learning platform are much discussed and researched by the academics. In particular, this study investigates a research instrument or tool that is used to describe the online learning engagement issues faced by the students. This Student Learning and Satisfaction in Online Learning Environments (SLS-OLE) survey was distributed to 150 students of UiTM to analyse and measure the relationships among the variables using exploratory factor analysis (Structural Equation Model approach). The variables are course organization/structure, learner interaction, student engagement, instructor presence, student satisfaction, and perceived learning. The respondents involved were undergraduates who went through Online Distance Learning (ODL) during the Movement Control Order due to COVID 19 pandemic. The findings of this study discovered that certain items and sections of the survey like "I learned less in the course than I anticipated" under Perceived Learning may not be relevant to UiTM students. Therefore, these findings allow the researchers to verify and improve the survey to gather more accurate data that represents the issues of online learning engagement in ODL synchronous learning of UiTM.