Experimental Analysis of Students’ Satisfaction Factors in E-Learning Environment: A Case Study on Saudi Arabian University

Abstract

Despite the proliferation of studies outlining the immense benefits obtained from e-learning, the understanding of students’ satisfaction with e-learning in developing countries is still unclear. Therefore, this paper investigates the relationship between Saudi students’ satisfaction with online courses and a number of individual, as well as institutional characteristics cited as robust predictors of students’ satisfaction in the educational literature. These include: students’ levels of internet self-efficacy, self-regulated learning, assessment of course and instructors’ interactivity and their evaluation of the Learning Management System (LMS) used. The results indicated that students’ internet self-efficacy and self-regulated learning constitute critical factors influencing students’ satisfaction with e-learning. Further, students’ assessment of course, as well as instructors’ interactivity are found to marginally affect perceived satisfaction with e-learning among Saudi students. The LMS used (Blackboard) seemed to be the weakest factor influencing students’ experience with online education. Overall, based on the results obtained and in order to maximise the benefits of e-learning; this paper recommends for Saudi universities to extensively use LMS to increase the interactions among primary stakeholders: students–instructors, students–students and students–LMS.