The perception of online education: A cross-cultural analysis of U.S. and Chinese students

by

S.Wang
J.Du

Abstract

The last decade has seen online degree programs playing an increasingly important role in the field of education, suggesting the potential of online education to become a key solution to limitations of the traditional education system. This suggests a need for a better understanding of how people perceive online education to determine whether online education is a viable option in the field of education and how it can be better facilitated. The respondents generally had favorable attitudes toward online education. The respondents emphasized accessibility as the most important advantage of online education. No respondent reported teacher quality. In terms of the most important disadvantages of online education, U.S. students were most likely to indicate interaction, whereas Chinese students indicated initial stage as the most important disadvantage. Some limitations and practical implications are discussed.

Keywords: Cross-Cultural Analysis, Students, Perception, Online Education, China, U.S.

research