Problem: Online learning is a form of distance education that occurs via the Internet (Adams, 2004; Carliner, 1999). The success of online learning depends on student-related factors such as acceptance, willingness, and motivation (Almaiah et al., 2019; Almaiah et al., 2020). When online learning systems are not utilized, students cannot realize…

The current study delved into the problematic achievement gap between African-American graduates students and other groups, specifically in the online learning environment. African-American graduate students' lower achievement is problematic due to its lost opportunity costs and social subjugation of an entire group of Americans. The study's…

Researchers have shown that aesthetic design has a positive effect on viewers of web pages. The problem is that the aesthetic design of e-learning courses is understudied, especially concerning nondisabled students in accessibly designed online classes. Thus, administrators, course designers, instructional technologists, faculty, and students may…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to know if and to what extent there was a relationship between self-determination and the dimensions of online learner readiness (motivation for learning, online communication self-efficacy, self-directed learning, learner control, and computer/internet self-efficacy) with online academic…

This study examined adult learners' satisfaction, motivation, and engagement in online academic writing courses. Utilizing a mixed method, causal-comparative design, the study investigated the experiences of adult learners, who have distinctive characteristics from traditional learners. The findings revealed that adult learners are highly…

This study employed qualitative research methods to conduct an in-depth learner needs analysis of the learning motivations, needs, and preferences of first-time fathers in the perinatal period. Occurring within the informed exploration phase of a Design-Based Research approach, the study aimed to understand the unique learning experiences of…

This dissertation investigates an overarching research question: how can recognition-type incentives, such as gamification and peer gifting, motivate users' knowledge seeking and contributions in e-learning and online Q&A (question and answer) communities? To address this question, I conducted three studies. In Chapter 2, I examine how social…

This study compared the effects of academic motivation on traditional and online community college students. Online enrollment continues to increase, especially in public colleges and universities. Academic success in online courses, however, continues to lag behind academic success in face-to-face courses, especially for community college…

Non-traditional students who are in their first year of college in online open-enrollment institutions have high drop-out rates. These students tend to benefit the most from student engagement. This qualitative study examined the success of a student-engagement based retention initiative known as the lab instructor model from the student…

The goal of this study was to examine differences in student learning outcomes and motivation over time as a function of scenario-based e-learning (SBeL) and feedback types (elaborative and intrinsic) as well as the interaction between these two variables. Research Question One asked if there was a statistically significant main effect of…

The purpose of this descriptive qualitative research was to seek an understanding of the challenges general education teachers faced when motivating, engaging, and instructing English Language Learners (EL) remotely online during the global pandemic of COVID-19. The data derived from individual interviews and focus group interviews revealed that…

The unprecedented shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique opportunity to research adult English language learners' lived experiences of online learning and motivations for persistence. With the growing trend of offering online learning to adult learners and concerns over the high attrition rates associated with…

Online learning motivation is a significant issue in online learning that is worthy of study to prevent academic performance issues from occurring. This study focuses on online learning motivation with the U.S. Army and their online learning experiences. To inform future organizational decisions with the goal of increasing overall student online…

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore how online undergraduate students experience, understand, and engage in successful course completion at an online for-profit university in the United States. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) model that focuses on meaningful learning experiences provided the study's conceptual…

The rising popularity of online learning and the global pandemic COVID-19 sped up the use of synchronous online teaching modality in HEIs worldwide. But unsatisfactory learning experiences and isolation were prominent and commonly perceived by learners. The study aimed to examine students' sense of belonging in a synchronous online learning…