Development and Validation of a Questionnaire for Microlearning Requirements in Micro-Credentials: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The study addresses the problem of the lack of a comprehensive questionnaire that encompasses the diverse requirements for designing effective learning environments and delivering meaningful learning experiences in micro-credential programs, with a specific focus on Malaysia higher education institutions. The aim of the study was to develop and validate a questionnaire capable of identifying the design requirements for microlearning in the context of developing micro-credentials. To achieve this, the questionnaire underwent validation through both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and quantitative analysis. The study involved 48 participants who were micro-credential developers from a public higher education institution in Malaysia. These participants represented various designations and were affiliated with 16 different faculties. Initially, a 70-item questionnaire was developed by incorporating relevant insights from literature review into Khan’s e-learning model. After eliminating overlapping items and items that did not adequately represent the specific elements, a 56-item questionnaire was developed. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) resulted in 14 factors consisting of 57 high-loading components, which collectively explained 85.549% of the total variance. The 57-item questionnaire demonstrated favourable multifaceted qualities. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by an expert panel, which identified the pedagogical dimension, technological dimension, evaluation dimension, management dimension, resources support and institutional dimension as significant factors. These six main constructs were collectively utilised to determine the microlearning design requirements for the development of micro-credentials. By addressing the multifaceted requirements of microlearning design, this questionnaire has the potential to enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of micro-credential programs in the Malaysian higher education landscape and beyond.