As countless regional, national, and international
accrediting bodies continue to employ student engagement measures as
mechanisms for quality assurance, universities become more intent on
achieving this important gauge of student success. Specifically, the
growth in enrollment in distance learning programs adds a unique
level of complexity leading researchers to search for ways to
increase engagement in the online course environment. Organizations
continue to value teamwork and many instructors have incorporated
group work into their online courses to teach students this
important skill. The present study examines the impact of student
engagement on group satisfaction. Furthermore, this research places
student engagement at the center of a structural equation model to
determine both predictors and outcomes of this important element of
student learning. Specifically, this analysis examines whether
students’ perceptions of computer self‑efficacy impact student
engagement and group satisfaction in online business courses. Our
findings indicate that computer self‑efficacy leads to student
engagement and, further, that student engagement influences group
satisfaction. Importantly, the relationship between student
engagement and group satisfaction is mediated by group expectations.
Discussions of findings can be utilized to understand the factors
that lead to student engagement and its outcomes in online
courses.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine whether the application of the minimalist approach is appropriate in distance learning (DL).
Design/methodology/approach
A survey of faculty who have participated in DL training courses at a university in the southeastern USA was conducted. In total, 72 faculty completed the survey, for a response rate of 34 percent.
Findings
Survey research findings demonstrate support for the suitableness of a minimalist approach to DL, as results indicate that faculty members do not need more training or more technology. In fact, results suggest there may be an excess of technological options, many of which are not being utilized.
Practical implications
In order to apply a minimalist approach to DL and in consideration of the survey results, the authors posit that fewer technologies should be used, the training required to teach an online course should be applied and simplified, and the technologies implemented in a DL course should be uncomplicated
Originality/value
Drawing from the literature on the minimalist approach to resourcefulness, a new lens with which to consider DL is presented. There have been few applications of minimalism within the IS literature. The minimalist approach presented herein is fitting given the budget reductions that have impacted higher education since the recession.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.