This research is based on the reality of insufficient relevant studies
despite the continued growth of EBS Internet courses and private Internet
courses, and the high number of middle school students taking such
courses. Therefore, the intent was to i...
This research is based on the reality of insufficient relevant studies
despite the continued growth of EBS Internet courses and private Internet
courses, and the high number of middle school students taking such
courses. Therefore, the intent was to investigate the Internet course
utilization state of middle school students and to compare and analyze the
effect of Internet course satisfaction level and academic achievement on
continued enrollment. The study intends to seek the development plan of
Internet courses for middle school students. In order to achieve such
research objectives, the following research problems were established.
First, what is the utilization state of Internet courses for middle school
students?
Second, what is the difference between satisfaction level and academic achievement of middle school students on EBS Internet courses and private
Internet courses?
Third, what is the perceived gap in Internet course satisfaction level,
academic achievement, and continued enrollment, depending on personal
background?
Fourth, what are the factors that affect academic achievement of Internet
courses?
Fifth, what are the effects of Internet course satisfaction level and
academic achievement on continued enrollment?
The findings from study of such problems are as follows.
First, when the utilization state of Internet courses by middle students
was analyzed, it was found that enrollment channel was high due to
recommendation by parents (41.1%) and own choice (38.2%), objective of
enrollment was high for improvement of academic records (54.8%) and
assignments (30.7%), and course management was highest for “no
management” (58.3%). The investigation showed that advantages of Internet
courses were high in the order of free of charge (24.7%), no locational
restrictions (24.1%), and repetition of study (21.4%), and the disadvantages
were high in the order of difficulty in study management (26.0%),
difficulty in concentration (21.9%), and boredom (15.9%).
Second, the study results showed that when the difference between
satisfaction level and academic achievement of EBS Internet courses and
private Internet courses of middle school students was investigated, satisfaction level (instructor, textbook, student management) and academic
achievement (academic achievement level, academic interest level, academic
confidence) did not show significant differences. The average values of
satisfaction level and academic achievement were found to be between 2.88
and 3.76, which means that it is difficult to make the assumption of
overall high values.
Third, the study on the perceived gap between satisfaction level and
academic achievement of Internet courses depending on personal background
showed that there was no difference in EBS Internet courses depending on
gender, and in private Internet courses, female students showed higher
levels in instructors and textbooks compared to male students. The
difference in regions showed that students in metropolitan regions perceived
instructors, textbooks, and student management factors to be high. In the
difference depending on grades, it was investigated that the group with
higher grades compared to the group with lower grades showed high levels
on factors of academic achievement and academic confidence in EBS
Internet courses, and for private Internet courses, the group with higher
grades perceived the instructor factor and academic achievement factor to
be high. EBS Internet courses depending on family circumstances showed
no significance in all factors, but in private Internet courses, the group
considering itself to be in affluent circumstances perceived instructor factor
and academic achievement (academic achievement level, academic interest
level, academic confidence) to be high. Fourth, when the factors affecting academic achievement of Internet
courses were analyzed, it was found that academic achievement was
affected by regional small and medium-sized cities, students with lower
grades, periods of 3 to 4 hours, instructors, textbooks, and student
management, academic interest levels were affected by terms of 6 months
to 1 year, cost of KRW 200,000 or higher, instructors, textbooks, and
student management, and academic confidence was affected by middle
grade levels, low grade levels, cost of KRW 200,000 or higher, instructors,
textbooks, and student management.
Fifth, from the analysis of the effect of Internet course satisfaction level
and academic achievement on continued enrollment, it was found that
instructors, textbooks, and student management showed significant effects.
With the foundation of the above research results, the conclusion for
development of Internet courses targeting middle school students is as
follows. Transparent selection of highly qualified instructors and continued
instructor training are essential for Internet teaching companies. Instructors
must ceaselessly pursue student satisfaction, in the areas of complete course
preparation, utilization of electric media for improvement of course
concentration, teaching materials and subsidiary textbook writing for aid of
course understanding, etc. Also, for the development of Internet courses for
middle school students, it is important to develop teaching materials
suitable for the student. The teaching materials must be organized,
categorized by difficulty, and equipped with full explanations, and they must be expressed in designs appropriate for students. Customized student
management is also crucial. Student management such as student
consultation when necessary, customized explanations, education materials
supply, and communication with instructors can improve the satisfaction
levels of students. Last, in order to increase continued enrollment of
Internet courses for middle school students, it is most important to improve
academic achievement (academic achievement level, academic interest level,
and academic confidence.)