The Role of Lecturer Related Factors in Students’ Perceptions and Satisfaction in Distance Education

Abstract

Technological advances have a huge impact on our lives. Education is no exception to this. For the last twenty years, many universities and educational institutions are trying to find new ways and methods in order to successfully use internet-based technologies in teaching and learning through distance learning initiatives. But traditional face-to-face classroom teaching paradigm is falling behind in the effective use of these technologies in education; hence we need a new teaching and learning paradigm in order to use online technologies in education effectively. The purpose of this study is to examine the affecting students’ satisfaction in distance learning platforms with specific emphasis on the role of lecturer related factors on the satisfaction. A survey was carried out on 465 students attending the MBA distance education program at the Sakarya University of Turkey. Findings provide evidence on the role of lecturer on student satisfaction in distance learning programs.