Factors that influence students' satisfaction and performance-in e-learning environments

This study offers an approach for understanding factors influencing students' satisfaction and performance in e-learning environments. The specific predictors that influence e-learning outcomes were social presence, perceived usefulness, readiness, flow, Internet self-efficacy and learner control. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to provide cause-and-effect inferences. A survey was distributed to 361 students who were enrolled in a Taiwanese university in 2009. All the hypotheses were supported. Among the factors explored, social presence was a stronger predictor of influence compared to others. The findings suggested that those who design e-learning environments should take factors that affect satisfaction and performance into account, in order to develop more effective e-learning environments for students. The study concludes with implications for researchers, educators and policy makers who are interested in using e-learning strategies to support learning.