Effect Of Incentivized Online Activities On E-Learning

When it comes to e-learning, the main concern is always the communication technology, instead of studying how the technology can work to enhance effective learning experience among learners (Stiles, 2000). This paper is an attempt to look beyond communication technology and examine the effect of online activities as an assessment incentive (motivation) on adult learners with particular reference to a specific e-course offered by the School of Arts and Social Sciences at SIM University (UniSIM), Singapore's only university for adult learners. In this case study, the overall continuous assessment was enhanced in the July 2008 semester by adding on online activity and the percentage of online activity (such as discussion board) was increased from 10% to 20% in the January 09 semester, while the qualitative feedback system was introduced in the July 09 semester. The researchers observe that these changes have resulted in an overall better performance by students in the continuous assessment component, while the deviation in students’ performance has been further lessened. It is also found that the students’ overall continuous assessment in online activities has improved after the instructors’ qualitative feedback system was introduced.