WHAT CONSTITUTES AN EFFECTIVE ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR MATHEMATICS STUDENTS?

This study reported on the students' perceptions of an effective online mathematics learning programme. 194 sets of qualitative data were collected from an open ended question that was part of a survey used to capture student perceptions of an online preparatory mathematics programme in a polytechnic. There were 376 students who responded to this online survey, from a total of 1095 students who had completed this programme. From the analysis, through coding and categorisation, the students identified important features of an effective online mathematics programme in two areas. In the area of content delivery, an online mathematics programme has to be diagnostic, recapitulative, connected, incremental, dynamic, meaningful, challenging, sufficient and monitoring. On the other hand, in the domain of self evaluation, an online mathematics programme has to be consistent, convenient, friendly, scaffolding, detailed, intelligent, challenging, sufficient and monitoring. In summary, this study has implications in the future design of online courses, specifically in mathematics, as it illuminated some of its desirable unique features as compared to other content areas.