PLATFORMS USED IN ONLINE EDUCATION AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF STUDENTS’ LEARNING IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BUEA, CAMEROON
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of online education platforms on the enhancement of students’ learning at the University of Buea. Specifically, the study examined the influence of Coursera and Moodle on students’ learning outcomes. Two research objectives were formulated to guide the study, and these were subsequently transformed into research questions and hypotheses. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A four-point Likert-scale questionnaire was used as the main instrument for data collection. Through simple random sampling, four establishments of the University of Buea were selected for the study, while accidental sampling technique was employed in administering the questionnaire to a sample of 357 students. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics involved frequencies and percentages, whereas inferential statistics were analysed using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. Findings revealed that both Coursera and Moodle significantly influence the enhancement of students’ learning at the University of Buea. The study concluded that the effective use of online learning platforms positively contributes to students’ academic engagement and learning outcomes. Based on these findings, the study recommended that students and instructors should increasingly integrate and maximise the use of Coursera and Moodle in the teaching-learning process in order to improve academic performance and promote effective online education practices within the university.
Downloads
References
Adarkwah, M. A. (2021). “I’m not against online teaching, but what about us?”: ICT in Ghana post Covid-19. Education and Information Technologies, 26(2), 1665–1685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10331-z
Adebayo, B., & Yusuf, A. (2023). Minimizing transactional distance in online learning: The role of instructional design. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1), 45–59.
Al-Fraihat, D., Joy, M., Masa’deh, R., & Sinclair, J. (2020). Evaluating E-learning systems success: An empirical study. Computers in Human Behaviour, 102, 67–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.08.004.
Almatrafi, O., & Alzahrani, R. (2021). Enhancing lifelong learning through MOOCs: A case study of Coursera in the Middle East. International Journal of Online Learning, 11(2), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijonl.2021.03.002
Asongu, S. A., Tchamyou, V. S., & Odhiambo, N. M. (2023). The role of peer collaboration and instructor feedback in online learning platforms: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Education and Information Technologies, 28(2), 1213–1230.
Bervell, B., & Umar, I. N. (2021). Promoting effective teaching and learning in higher education: A community of inquiry perspective. Education and Information Technologies, 26, 4693–4713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10483-9
Demirkol, M., & Aydin, S. (2020). Instructor presence in MOOC platforms: A study of learner perceptions. Open Learning Journal, 35(3), 210–225. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680513.2020.1743174
Eze, S. C., & Chinedu, P. (2022). The impact of perceived usefulness and platform quality on online academic performance: A case of Coursera users in Nigeria. Journal of Learning for Development, 9(1), 59–75.
Hernández, L., & López, P. (2022). Impact of Coursera certifications on youth employability in Latin America. Journal of Online Workforce Development, 9(1), 44–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jowd.2022.01.006
Johnson, R., & Wilkinson, L. (2020). Collaborative learning with Moodle: Enhancing teamwork and peer learning. Journal of Collaborative Learning, 9(3), 78-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcl.2020.06.007
Kpolovie, P. J., & Awusaku, O. K. (2021). Effect of online learning on academic achievement in a Nigerian university. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00290-4
Maggioncalda, J. (2019). Coursera for campus: A new way to help universities everywhere deliver job-relevant learning. Coursera blog. Retrieved from https://blog.coursera.org/coursera-for-campus-a-new-way-to-help-universities-everywhere-deliver-job-relevant-learning.
Mensah, J. K., & Gyang, J. D. (2021). Technology acceptance and academic performance: Insights from Coursera users in Ghanaian universities. African Journal of Educational Management, 23(1), 85–101.
Mnguni, L. E., & Mhlongo, M. (2022). Moodle-based online learning and students’ motivation: An SDT perspective. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 60(3), 629–650. https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331211038371
Musgrave, S. (2020). Music education online: Student motivation and engagement in the pandemic era. Research Studies in Music Education, 42(2), 211–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X20937658
Mwakyusa, N. R., & Mwalyagile, A. (2022). Students’ perceptions and academic performance in online learning: A case of Moodle. Education and Information Technologies, 27, 11013–11030. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11024-6
Mwangi, J. (2021). Cultural relevance in global MOOC platforms: The African student experience on Coursera. African Journal of Educational Technology, 7(2), 113–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajet.2021.05.003
Nguyen, L. Q. (2022). Learners’ satisfaction of courses on coursera as a massive open online course platform: A case study. Frontiers in education. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.1086170
Nwankwo, I. U., & Okeke, A. O. (2020). E-learning engagement in Nigerian universities: The influence of Zoom as an instructional delivery platform. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 36(4), 242–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/21532974.2020.1822160
Obielodan, O. O., & Nwokeoma, B. N. (2023). Moodle-based learning platforms and collaborative engagement in Nigerian universities. Interactive learning environments, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2023.2202164
Oye, N. D., Salleh, M., & Iahad, N. A. (2021). The impact of e-learning on students' academic performance: A case study of Moodle platform. Education and Information Technologies, 26(3), 2791–2805. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10300-6.
Patel, R., Singh, K., & Arora, A. (2022). The role of asynchronous learning in MOOCs: A learner-centered perspective. Education and Information Technologies, 27(4), 3121–3135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10780-2
Sun, L., Xu, L., & Chen, X. (2020). Flexibility in online education: A study of its effects on academic performance. Springer.
Zhang, Y., & Wang, H. (2023). Predicting academic performance in Coursera MOOCs using engagement analytics. Journal of Learning Analytics, 10(1), 58–72. https://doi.org/10.18608/jla.2023.7653
Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the Global Publication House will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.


















