Online learning satisfaction in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic: A regional comparison between Eastern and Western Chinese universities

Student satisfaction is of great significance in online learning, but few studies have explored its determinants in emerging countries. This study investigated the determinants of university students’ satisfaction with online learning platforms in China through applying the Technology Satisfaction Model during the COVID-19 pandemic, when an unprecedented amount of learning began to take place online due to the closure of educational institutions. A total of 928 students from five universities in four Chinese provinces or municipalities were surveyed through a purposive sampling technique and analyzed through structural equation modeling and the Rasch model. Findings show that Chinese university students’ satisfaction with online learning platforms is directly and indirectly impacted by their computer self-efficacy and the perceived ease of use and usefulness of the platforms. Findings also show that regional differences moderate the associations among these components. The current study adds to theoretical, methodical and practical understanding of university students’ satisfaction with using online learning platforms, which have been recognized as irreplaceable emergency educational tools.