V3I9P29

Effect of Remote Teaching Practices on Student Engagement in State Universities in South-East Nigeria 

Ugorji Martha Chidinma^1*, Prof. E. K. Agbaeze², Onyebuchi Justina Chibugo³, Ibe-Lamberts Blessing Ifeyinwa⁴, Dr. Nduka Oyediya Ijedinma⁵

Abstract

This study examined the effect of remote teaching practices on student engagement in state universities in South-East Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the effects of online instructional design (OID), virtual classroom interaction (VCI), digital learning resources (DLR), and instructional technology support (ITS) on students’ behavioural, emotional, and cognitive engagement. The study was anchored on the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework, which emphasises teaching, social, and cognitive presence as essential elements of meaningful learning in technology-mediated environments. A survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 3,620 students from five selected state universities, with one university selected from each state in South-East Nigeria. Using the Taro Yamane formula at a 5% level of precision, a minimum sample size of 360 was obtained, while 400 questionnaires were distributed to accommodate possible non-response. A total of 372 valid questionnaires were retrieved and analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that OID, VCI, DLR, and ITS each had a significant positive effect on student engagement. VCI recorded the strongest effect, followed by DLR, OID, and ITS. Collectively, the four dimensions of remote teaching practices explained 61.0% of the variation in student engagement. The study concludes that effective remote teaching practices significantly enhance students’ behavioural, emotional, and cognitive engagement. It recommends strengthening lecturers’ online pedagogical competencies, improving virtual classroom interaction, expanding digital learning resources, and providing sustainable institutional technological support to enhance student engagement in state universities in South-East Nigeria.

Keywords:

Remote Teaching Practices; Online Instructional Design; Virtual Classroom Interaction; Student Engagement