HOW ONLINE TUTORIALS FOR SCIENTIFIC PAPER COURSES AFFECT STUDENT SATISFACTION AT INDONESIAN OPEN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Writing scientific papers is a crucial skill that students must acquire during their academic journey. At the Open University, the scientific paper course is a mandatory requirement for all bachelor's degree programs. However, the course poses unique challenges as it is conducted online through Microsoft Teams. This study aims to assess the satisfaction levels of students participating in the scientific paper course, focusing on their understanding, engagement in activities, and overall learning outcomes. The study employed a combination of methods, including a questionnaire, interviews, and documentation analysis. Data samples were collected from students enrolled in scientific paper courses at Lampung Open University during the 2022.2 and 2023.1 semesters. To ensure representative data, a 20% sample size was determined from each faculty using purposive sampling strategies. Direct contact with respondents was made to gather the necessary information. The questionnaire utilized a Likert Scale model, with response options ranging from Very Unsatisfied (VU) to Very Satisfied (VS). The results of the study indicated that students from all faculties reported satisfaction rates of 50% or higher. Among the faculties, the Faculty of Economic and Business achieved the highest satisfaction percentage (83.5%), followed by the Faculty of Science and Technology (78.5%), the Faculty of Law, Social and Political Science (74.8%), and the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (61%). In conclusion, the findings suggest that students exhibited a good understanding of the scientific paper course conducted online, and most students were able to actively participate in the learning process. This was supported by the excellent academic results achieved by the students. The study highlights the importance of online platforms for delivering course content effectively and the need for continuous improvement in facilitating student engagement and comprehension in scientific paper courses. Further research could explore additional factors influencing student satisfaction and identify strategies to enhance the online learning experience in biology and science education.