Analysis about Achievements of e-learning on University Calculus

Abstract

The development of the e-learning will become the trend in the future, especially the Ministry of Education in Taiwan still strife on the promises that they made a few years ago. This study is to analyze 2003 school year (2003.8.1 to 2004.7.31) data about calculus of 129 freshmen who are majoring in three departments (Computer & Communication, Information Management, Applied Statistics & Information Science) at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan concerning with achievements of e-learning. The way for e-learning of these classes still focus on traditional classroom, but aided with Internet teaching, students can preview and review through the WWW, also, the platform have the ability for interactions (online Q & A, discussion board, etc.). This study were initially analyzed the records of system, that were included some numeric data of students’ activities such as numbers of login in, discussion, etc., this learning activities were treated as the standard indication for participant in e-learning. Then, applied the Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovation as the experiment to classified the course as the 2-semester courses, and recorded the first login time, to explore the active participation concerning with impact from achievements of e-learning.

At last, the study used the structural equation modeling (SEM) to discern the real situations, and to search the best fit model about the calculus study through e-learning. The results were shown that active and participation in e-learning behaviors had some degrees of influence on final grades. The proposed model from SEM shown that each variable in e-learning usage of teachers (TUSE), students’ opinions toward e-learning (SO), interactions of system (SACTION), teaching material (TMATERIAL), interactions during teaching (TACT), achievements of e-learning (ACH), and acceptance of e-learning (ACCEP) factors were statistically significant. There were various statistically significant results between factors in the proposed model. The modified model is further provides the best-fit model as reference for teachers who are interested in integrate the web as the learning aided tool.