How Do K–12 Students’ Perceptions of Online Learning Environments Affect Their Online Learning Engagement? Evidence from China’s COVID-19 School Closure Period

Yunpeng Ma, Mingzhang Zuo (), Yujie Yan, Kunyu Wang and Heng Luo ()
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Yunpeng Ma: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430074, China
Mingzhang Zuo: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430074, China
Yujie Yan: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430074, China
Kunyu Wang: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430074, China
Heng Luo: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430074, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-16

Abstract: A learning environment’s quality has crucial influence on a student’s engagement. In this study, we utilized a structural equation modeling approach to explore the structural relationships between students’ perceptions of an online learning environment and their online learning engagement during China’s COVID-19 school closure period by focusing on an online learning environment and the specific features that facilitate student engagement. The online learning environment was conceptualized as a multidimensional structure consisting of four elements: pedagogy, social interaction, technology, and the consideration of home learning conditions. Student engagement was conceptualized as a multifaceted construct comprising behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. The results showed that teaching presence significantly predicted deep behavioral engagement (β = 0.246), emotional engagement (β = 0.110), and cognitive engagement (β = 0.180). Social presence significantly positively predicted cognitive engagement (β = 0.298) and emotional engagement (β = 0.480), whereas its effect on behavioral engagement was not significant. The perceived ease of technology use significantly predicted only emotional engagement (β = 0.324), and the family learning presence significantly predicted only behavioral engagement (β = 0.108). The results also indicated that emotional and cognitive engagement had indirect effects on the predictive power of the online learning environment for behavioral engagement. These findings provide valuable guidelines and effective strategies for teachers and parents to design suitable online learning environments to enhance K–12 student engagement.

Keywords: COVID-19; online learning; student engagement; environment perceptions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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