The Determinants and the Magnitude of their Effectiveness on Online Learning during Covid 19 Pandemic in Bangladesh

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors and the extent of their effects on the effectiveness of online learning in Bangladesh during the COVID 19 pandemic. Moreover, this study intends to examine the mediating role of students’ online learning motivation by observing and comparing information and communication technology infrastructure, competencies in information and communication technology, and students-teachers interaction as predictors of students’ online learning motivation and effectiveness of online learning. Following the positivism research paradigm and cross-sectional design, the researchers adopt a quantitative approach using the survey method through a structured questionnaire covering 408 responses of undergraduate and graduate students from more than 23 public and private universities in Bangladesh. The 6-point Likert scale was used to measure the extent of effects of competencies in information and communication technology, competencies in information and communication technology, students-teachers interaction, and online learning motivation on the effectiveness of online learning using partial least squares based structural equation modeling. This study investigates three exogenous, one endogenous, and a mediating factor. This study finds significant effects of independent variables on effectiveness of online learning and a significant mediating role of online learning motivation between the independent variables and effectiveness of online learning apart from the direct effects of information and communication technology infrastructure on online learning motivation and competencies in information and communication technology on effectiveness of online learning. In addition, this study finds nonsignificant direct effects of competencies in information,