坚持学业的背后——以甘肃电大英语专业本科学生为例

Discussion of Factors Influencing Learning Achievements of Distance Learners

辍学是远程开放教育发展中一个不容忽视的热点问题,而对坚持学业的学生进行分析研究将从另一个视角来审视和思考辍学问题。研究以2010年春入学的134名英语本科在读学生为调查对象,通过问卷调查和访谈探究他们坚持学业的主要因素,以及他们在课程学习过程中的具体感受。研究同时还参考了他们在校学习成绩记录。研究表明,学生的内在动机促使他们坚持学习,同时学习的阶段性成果又反过来激励他们的学业前行。此外,学生对已开设八门课程的评价反馈也指出英语专业的课程设计需充分关注学习内容的科学性、趣味性和实用性。

The high rate of dropouts is a hot issue in the development of open and distance learning. An analysis of distance learners' persistence will provide another view to study the dropouts. Based on data from the questionnaires and interviews of 134 students enrolled in English Program in spring term of 2010, the paper aims to sum up the key factors influencing their persistence in distance learning. In addition, the paper collects data of these students' feelings during the learning process and their academic achievements. The results show that both the internal motivation and learning progress drive them to continue their study. Moreover, the feedbacks on eight subjects were used to work out some suggestions on how to improve the design of English program.