Online Learning and High School Students: a Cultural Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the insights of high school students regarding their online learning experiences in the margin of cultural considerations. The study was designed in a qualitative pattern. The data were collected through a questionnaire including eight open ended questions along with demographics. A total of 30 high school students enrolled in an online learning environment participated in this study. The findings revealed that the majority of the students benefited from online discussion activities, as well as posed numerous suggestions. They found it safe to express their opinions due to the feeling of peer and teacher presence. Students reported that one of the primary boundaries was the lack of self-confidence to share and the visibility of their postings by the others. When compared to in-classroom discussion activities, online discussions were found to be more flexible for sharing ideas freely without any pressure. Implications were discussed for further research.