Measurement of Student Engagement in a Generic and Online Learning Management System-Based Environment

2. Related Work

Student engagement research works from the perspective that education is fundamentally about students creating their own knowledge. While students are seen to be responsible for constructing their knowledge, learning is also seen to depend on institutions and staff generating conditions that stimulate and encourage student involvement (Davis and Murrel, (1993)) For the last two decades or so, the penetration of sophisticated technology tools like online learning management systems into many educational institutions have provided a blended learning environment for the current student generation. Learning management systems (LMS) are at the forefront of this technological development. LMS have been designed to have a diverse influence on the ways in which campus-based students engage with their university studies (Hamish Coates (2006)). LMS have the capacity to change how students collaborate with others, communicate with staff, and access the materials which they use to learn. It enriches student’s learning experiences and engages them by opening wide range of resources. However, on this important and emerging aspect of higher education very little work has been reported. Research on this aspect comes from National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE), USA, and also from Australian Student engagement research studies. In India, the National Mission of Education Information Technology Communication (NME ICT), an Indian government body, is also conducting various studies on student engagement.