Students' perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring in the online university environment

Ásta Bryndís Schram; Sigurbjörg Jóhannesdóttir

doi:10.24270/tuuom.2025.34.8

Students' perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring in the online university environment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Útdráttur/Abstract

There is increasing research on strategies for fostering students’ motivation online. However, a focus is lacking on the role of teacher caring and connectedness and how these motivational constructs develop in the online environment. Mixed methods were used to assess students’ perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring and how the teacher’s behavior related to these factors. Participants were 173 students in an asynchronous, online graduate course in public administration.

A survey included a validated caring scale from the MUSIC Model of Motivation Inventory and single items. Students’ perceptions of teacher caring were very strong. Data from focus groups, open questions, and a teacher interview cast a deeper light on the results. Course structures with quality material, clear directions, positive communication, support, and personal presence were influential.

Students’ sense of peer connectedness varied. Instructional strategies should be planned so that students perceive teacher caring, as this factor improves student motivation and learning.

Translated title of the contribution	Upplifun nemenda af tengslamyndun og umhyggju kennara í fjarnnámi við háskóla
Original language	English / enska
Pages (from-to)	21-43
Number of pages	23
Journal	Tímarit um uppeldi og menntun
Volume	34
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.24270/tuuom.2025.34.8
Publication status	Published - 11 Dec 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education

Other keywords

Connectedness
relatedness
Caring
Motivation
Online classes
Online Studies
Distance study
Higher education

Aðgangur að heildartexta/Access to Document

10.24270/tuuom.2025.34.8Licence: CC BY

Schram&Johannesdottir__2025__Students-perceptions-of-connectness (pdf)Final published version, 280 KBLicence: CC BY

https://ojs.hi.is/index.php/tuuom/article/view/4262/2827Licence: CC BY

OSS111F: Research on Distance Learning Methods in the Course: OSS111F - Public Administration
Johannesdottir, S. (PI), Schram, Á. B. (PI) & Sigurgeirsdóttir, S. (PI)
10/10/20 → 31/12/25
Project: To be defined - legacy data

Experiences of Distance Students in the Public Administration Program at the University of Iceland: Flexibility, Quality, and Opportunities for Improvement
Schram, Á. B. (Speaker), Jóhannesdóttir, S. (Speaker), Þorvaldsdóttir, S. (Speaker), Hlynsdóttir, E. M. (Speaker) & Sigurgeirsdóttir, S. (Speaker)
31 Oct 2025
Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation

File

Cite this

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title = "Students' perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring in the online university environment",

abstract = "There is increasing research on strategies for fostering students{\textquoteright} motivation online. However, a focus is lacking on the role of teacher caring and connectedness and how these motivational constructs develop in the online environment. Mixed methods were used to assess students{\textquoteright} perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring and how the teacher{\textquoteright}s behavior related to these factors. Participants were 173 students in an asynchronous, online graduate course in public administration. A survey included a validated caring scale from the MUSIC Model of Motivation Inventory and single items. Students{\textquoteright} perceptions of teacher caring were very strong. Data from focus groups, open questions, and a teacher interview cast a deeper light on the results. Course structures with quality material, clear directions, positive communication, support, and personal presence were influential. Students{\textquoteright} sense of peer connectedness varied. Instructional strategies should be planned so that students perceive teacher caring, as this factor improves student motivation and learning.",

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author = "Schram, \{{\'A}sta Brynd{\'i}s\} and Sigurbj{\"o}rg J{\'o}hannesd{\'o}ttir",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "11",

doi = "10.24270/tuuom.2025.34.8",

language = "English / enska",

volume = "34",

pages = "21--43",

journal = "T{\'i}marit um uppeldi og menntun",

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T1 - Students' perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring in the online university environment

AU - Schram, Ásta Bryndís

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KW - tengslamyndun

KW - félagsleg tengsl

KW - umhyggja kennara

KW - áhugahvöt nemenda

KW - áhugahvöt

KW - umhyggja

KW - fjarnám

KW - netnám

KW - háskólamenntun

KW - Connectedness

KW - relatedness

KW - Caring

KW - Motivation

KW - Online classes

KW - Online Studies

KW - Distance study

KW - Higher education

U2 - 10.24270/tuuom.2025.34.8

DO - 10.24270/tuuom.2025.34.8

M3 - Article

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IS - 2

ER -

Students' perceptions of connectedness and teacher caring in the online university environment

Útdráttur/Abstract

UN SDGs

Other keywords

Aðgangur að heildartexta/Access to Document

Fingrafar/Fingerprint

Projects

OSS111F: Research on Distance Learning Methods in the Course: OSS111F - Public Administration

Activities

Experiences of Distance Students in the Public Administration Program at the University of Iceland: Flexibility, Quality, and Opportunities for Improvement

Cite this