Investigation of Students Interaction in E-learning Environment; Case Study: Mehralborz Higher Education Institute

The present research investigates the interaction of learners (Learners, Educational content, Teacher, and Teaching Assistant) in E-learning environment of higher education. According to the purpose of research, was applied research and according to the collecting data, the design of the research was descriptive- survey. Statistical population included all students in Higher Education Institute of MehrAlborz (the first higher education institution in the field of E-learning in Iran) in the academic year of 1393-94, from whom 256 people were selected through relative classification sampling method. Data gathering tool was a researcher- made questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient 90/0. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U and Friedman tests. The findings of the research revealed that students' interaction is relatively appropriate in all aspects of the interaction. Friedman test results indicate that there is a significant difference between ranking averages. Students interaction with 1- Teaching Assistants, 2- Educational content 3- professor and 4- Students, ranked from higher to lower, respectively. The results of U Mann–Whitney test revealed that there is a significant difference between the extent of students' interaction and other components of the interaction in both Engineering and Management groups, and management students have a higher level of interaction in all aspects.