SDCA Journal of Communication and Media Studies

Abstract

Countless research have focused on online learning, and very few scholarly works examined online learning in terms of the broader student experience. This study aims to better understand the use of active cameras in improving the online learning experience of School of Arts, Sciences, and Education students in St. Dominic College of Asia using six factors: Participation and Productivity, Presence, Connection and Bond, Efficient Communication, Motivation and Confidence, and Application. As defined in the study, active cameras are the use of video cameras throughout the online classes for both the teachers and the students. The researchers utilized a descriptive research design to define and interpret the current status of individuals, settings, or events (Mertler, 2014). This helped the researchers determine the cause-effect relationship of the variables: the student with an active camera and the camera itself. Researchers used an online survey via Google Forms to collect data. Using different statistical tools, the researchers found that most of the 131 respondents agreed that the use of active cameras improved their learning experience. Notably, it helps in enhancing their participation and productivity, presence, communication efficiency, and connection and bond with their teachers and classmates.

Keywords: Virtual senses, active cameras, online learning experience, webcam, online class.