Psychosocial Well-Being of Israeli Students and Attitudes toward Open and Distance Learning

Authors

  • Gila Kurtz Bar-Ilan University & The Centre for Academic Studies
  • Yair Amichai-Hamburger Interdisciplinary Center Herzelia
  • Jeffrey Kantor Bar-Ilan University & Ariel University Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v10i2.593

Keywords:

Attitudes toward ODL, perceived well-being, UCLA Loneliness Scale, fully online courses

Abstract

This article reports on a study conducted in Israel at an academic institution. The study investigates the correlation between students’ attitudes toward open and distance learning (ODL) and their perceived self-esteem and loneliness at the last stage of their online learning experience. For this study, 120 students were asked to complete a questionnaire. The students were enrolled in three fully online academic courses, which were similar in their instructional design approach although different in content. Findings reveal that there is a positive correlation between self-esteem and attitudes toward e-learning in general and toward online interaction with the instructor in particular. The findings further suggest that there is no correlation between loneliness and student attitudes toward e-learning. Some explanations for these results are raised as are recommendations for further research.

Author Biographies

Gila Kurtz, Bar-Ilan University & The Centre for Academic Studies

Gila Kurtz (Ph.D.) is the Head of a Master program titled Knowledge Technologies and Curriculum at the Center for Academic Studies ( http://www.mla.ac.il/), Israel. She also teaches in the Master of Distance Education program at Graduate School of Management and Technology (http://www.umuc.edu/departments/omde/), UMUC. Her research fields: online learning and web 2.0 technologies.

Yair Amichai-Hamburger, Interdisciplinary Center Herzelia

Dr. Yair Amichai-Hamburger received his Ph.D from Oxford University. He is the director of the Research Center for Internet Psychology (CIP), Sammy Ofer School of Communications, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya. A prolific author, he has received awards from the Academy of Management and the American Library Association. His research interests include: Internet use and well-being; virtual teams; intergroup contact on the Internet and leadership and motivation. His first book, The Social Net, Human Behavior in Cyberspace was published by Oxford University Press 2005 and his second book Technology and Wellbeing is to be published by Cambridge University Press in 2009. He is presently working on several international projects with a special focus on the impact of technology on our well-being.

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Published

2009-04-29

How to Cite

Kurtz, G., Amichai-Hamburger, Y., & Kantor, J. (2009). Psychosocial Well-Being of Israeli Students and Attitudes toward Open and Distance Learning. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v10i2.593

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2009): Regional Focus Issue - Learning Technologies in the Middle East

Section

Research Articles

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