Investigating the Perceptions of Master's Degree Students in the Online Educational Landscape: A Case Study of an Open University in Thailand
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In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the integration of technology has become increasingly prevalent. In 2023, the decision of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), Thailand to transition to a 100% online learning platform marks a significant paradigm shift in the delivery of education. This transformative move necessitates an in-depth exploration of students' perceptions towards the online learning environment. The population of the study involved 24 students from different locations who were studying Master degree of curriculum and instruction majoring in English language teaching, school of Educational Studies at the open university, Thailand registering in course block 22762 Foundations and Methodologies of English Language Instruction at the academic year 2023. They were divided into 2 groups of learning; 12 students per one group. One of the two groups was chosen purposively, as the sampling of the study. The research design used for this study employed a qualitative approach. A focus group interview was conducted online via MS Teams and lasted up to 60 minutes and then analyzing data through content analysis.
The students were ensured that their participation and personal information was kept confidential. The interview guide questions were used to collect data from students. A focus group interview delves into students' perceptions and experiences of online learning. From the focus group interview, findings revealed that there were commonalities among the students’ response, which links to common attributes of effective learners while each student is unique in their approach to online learning. The results were divided into advantages and disadvantages of online learning that cover interview topics which are identification of strengths and challenges, assessment of educational effectiveness, enhancement of teaching and learning strategies, impacts on student engagement and motivation, tailoring support services, and feedbacks for continuous improvement. Employing content analysis as the analytical framework, the study revealed that, while students generally expressed positive perceptions of online platform learning, there were some disadvantages associated with this mode of learning. By exploring their perceptions, this study aims to contribute valuable insights that will inform strategic decisions, enhance the quality of online education, and ultimately elevate the overall learning experience for students not only at the STOU but also students in other open university sharing a very similar context.
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บทความ ข้อความ ภาพประกอบ ตารางประกอบ ที่ตีพิมพ์ในวารสารเป็นความคิดเห็นและความรับผิดชอบของผู้เขียนแต่เพียงผู้เดียว ไม่เกี่ยวข้องกับมหาวิทยาลัยสุโขทัยธรรมาธิราชแต่อย่างใด
บทความที่เสนอพิจารณาในวารสาร e-JODIL ต้องเป็นบทความที่ไม่เคยส่งไปลงพิมพ์ เผยแพร่ หรืออยู่ระหว่างการพิจารณาของวารสารอื่น
กองบรรณาธิการขอสงวนสิทธิ์ในการพิจารณาและตัดสินการตีพิมพ์บทความในวารสาร
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