Using SAKAI LMS for Enhanced Instructor-Student Interactions and Effective Student Learning: Perceptions of Students from the University of Ghana

Electronic interactions on the online course management system (SAKAI) platform employing features such as announcements, video links, web links, course documents for uploading course materials for the class, and e-mail have been monitored at the three study sites of the University of Ghana—“regular,” “city campus,” and “distance.” A total of 220 students were involved. At the end of the semester ending December 2016, survey questionnaires were administered to indirectly assess the learning outcomes. Students were asked to rate the extent to which they preferred and utilized various forms of student–instructor interactions made available to them on a Likert scale. Students perceived the most effective factor in their academic success to be how easily they got access to their instructors. Participation in group discussions was perceived to be very supportive of students’ academic success. On ease of access to the SAKAI LMS, it was indicated that “posting/submitting completed assignments and/or quizzes was successful most of the time,” showing that the platform provided students with the needed ease of access. On learning outcomes, students from the reduced information group (city campus) perceived that they gained critical thinking outcomes. Regular students perceived higher communication skill gains than the “distance” and “city campus” groups. Regular students rated higher their perception that they did better on collaborative and connectivity skills, which helped support their learning outcomes than did “distance” and “city campus” students.