COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND COMPREHENSION IN ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS: A MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION APPROACH

Abstract

The present paper assessed student engagement and comprehension in online learning platforms among undergraduate and postgraduate students in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The study explores the impact of students' online engagement on learning outcomes, focusing on behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 93 undergraduates and 66 postgraduates, highlighting a balanced gender distribution and age range of 21 to 47. Participants completed measures of online engagement and learning comprehension. The analysis revealed the positive effects of online engagement on academic comprehension, with varying degrees of influence between undergraduate and postgraduate students. Notably, cognitive engagement had a greater impact on academic comprehension for postgraduate students, while behavioral engagement showed a more significant effect for undergraduates. The findings underscore the importance of tailoring online learning strategies to enhance student engagement and ultimately improve learning outcomes. While the study has limitations in terms of generalizability, its insights contribute to the literature on comparing engagement and comprehension in online learning environments.