The Development of Scaffolding and Its Impact on the Perceived Efficiency of Interactivity in Online Education

Abstract

In view of the critically important role interactivity plays in online education, scholars have highlighted its various essential features and effects. This study argues that in spite of the diversity of the features and effects advocated, the technical attributes alone are hardly sufficient to meet autonomous learners' expectation for the efficiency of interactivity, unless properly-constructed scaffolding is incorporated in online education. To prove the argument, a survey instrument was developed, an empirical study was carried out, data were collected from 299 university students of 3 online learning modes, and the relationship between the proposed scaffolding and learners' perceived efficiency of interactivity attributes was examined by SmartPLS2.0. It was proved that properly-developed scaffolding has significantly positive effect on learners' perceived efficiency of interactivity in online education.