IU Online continues to investigate students' expectations for, and perception of, quality in online coursework.
After a pilot survey and subsequent revisions in fall 2020 and early 2021, the Office of Online Education collaborated with the IU Center for Evaluation, Policy, and Research (CEPR) to administer the finalized version of Online Learner Expectations Survey (OLES) in September 2021.
The survey was distributed to all students enrolled in IU Online undergraduate programs at the regional campuses. Five hundred and fifty-nine students (559) completed the survey, constituting a response rate of 19 percent.
The questions that guided the study, along with key findings, are outlined below.
- What are students' expectations of online education courses?
- Convenience and flexibility
- Opportunities for career advancement
- How do students define value and quality in online courses?
- Relevant content and manageable workload.
- Effective and communicative instructors.
Ninety-five (95) percent of the respondents said they would recommend their IU Online program to a friend or colleague. Their reasons include:
- Convenience/flexibility
- Organization/ease of use on learning platforms
- Instructors/staff/advisors
- Relevant or interesting program, content, or courses
- Overall quality or reputation of IU
- Cost/affordability
- Challenging/rewarding experience
OOE and CEPR will continue to use the survey instrument to collect students' feedback over time. Read all the survey results or view a printable pdf infographic.