How Postgraduate Students Engage With Online Course Material and Activities

Abstract This paper describes the final phase of a project to investigate the use of a virtual learning environment (VLE) with distance learners supporting each other through study groups. The specific topic was the development of academic literacy skills by postgraduate computing students. An initial survey and pilot study were used to plan the final study in which a set of online activities was provided for a complete cohort of students. Because student participation in these activities was limited, a series of telephone interviews was carried out with a sample of this cohort to investigate their attitudes to participation in optional activities. The VLE logs were also used to examine patterns of student activity. Analysis of this material has identified a number of factors that influence the way in which students work with the VLE: how they choose which activities to take part in and how they engage with course materials.