Abstract:

Following the rapid development of online learning and the enrichment of web-based resources made available utilizing the Internet and Learning Management System (LMS), the quality of interaction among learners, web-based content, and teacher, as well as learners’ satisfaction have been imperative factors in determining the efficacy of online teaching and learning. Events in the learning environment often prompt and support the interaction of learners with the online content. An internal dialogue of reflective thought occurs when learner interacts with the content as well as the teacher. In this paper, the author presents a case on the experience of teaching learning of an online Master in Business Administration (MBA) course in Universiti Sains Malaysia. The author first introduces the background of the online MBA course delivery employing an in-house developed online platform, LMS, and web-based video conferencing system. The pedagogy adopted to deliver the online course to the postgraduate adult students is then discussed. Based on a framework developed for investigating learners’ interaction with online content, data from the log and activity database is extracted. The data is then analyzed based on the pattern and behaviour of learners’ interaction with the online content of the course. Further analysis is done by transcribing the discussions and exchanges of teacher and learners within the online bulletin board and exchanges in the web-based video conferencing, specifically investigating the dimension, depth and category of exchanges occurred. The authors also discussed feedback obtained from the online learners at the end of the semester. Based on the findings, the author proposes recommendations to enhance the design and delivery of web-based content, aiming at maximizing the efficacy of the online learning environment of postgraduate courses.

Keywords:

Interaction, on-line environment, MBA, postgraduate education, Malaysia.