The Impact of Awareness and Usage of E-learning Platforms on Academic Satisfaction of Undergraduates in Management Faculties of State Universities Located in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The surge in Information Communication Technology (ICT) has propelled eLearning to surpass traditional classroom-based learning on a global scale. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted education systems worldwide, leading higher education institutions and schools in Sri Lanka to adopt a 100% eLearning-based approach. Consequently, there is a
pressing need to comprehend the factors influencing students' academic satisfaction. This study focuses on three variables: awareness of eLearning platforms (independent), usage of eLearning platforms (independent), and academic satisfaction (dependent). The research problem addresses whether there is an impact of awareness and usage of eLearning platforms
on the academic satisfaction of undergraduates in Management Faculties of State Universities located in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. The nature of this study is analytical. Data were collected from a structured Google questionnaire and it was distributed among 255 undergraduates. Thus, the unit of analysis is individual undergraduate. The developed questionnaire ensures its validity and reliability. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS statistics software to achieve the research objectives. The findings indicate a highly significant positive impact from the awareness and usage of eLearning platforms separately on the academic satisfaction of undergraduates. Moreover, it is statistically evident that combined impact of awareness and usage of eLearning platforms on the academic satisfaction of undergraduates is highly significant and positive.

Key Words: Awareness, Academic Satisfaction, eLearning, Undergraduates, Usage