Student engagement and course value as quality issues in ICT-based higher education

Abstract

The evolution and revolution of Information and communication technology (ICT) has greatly impacted the world of work and higher education. For the latter, distance education offerings are highly reliant on ICT through the e-learning mode. Due to the economic slowdown and the government's incentive, working adults are returning to school. However, with a different learning environment, adjustments must be made to accommodate the learning process, thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the level of cognitive engagement and course value among adult, distance students toward e-learning. The sample size for this study was 500 adult students and the returned response was 33.8%. The mean scores for student engagement was 4.48 and course value was 4.36, indicating that student engagement and course value are mediocre. It was reflected in their academic performance where the average CGPA is between 2.50–2.99. These are indicators of low level integration and motivations among adult students in the course of their learning. The university administration needs ensure that the customized learning management system is more user friendly as this would enhance the chances of student success and reduce the rate of attrition.