E-Learning using zoom: A study of students’ attitude and learning effectiveness in higher education

Highlights•Prior experience is a significant component in forming positive attitudes toward e-Learning.•Students' attitudes toward e-Learning are very important and affect the effectiveness of using the Zoom system.•Using an open camera throughout the synchronous lessons is very significant for the students' effective learning.•The technological skills and technical abilities of students are necessary for effective e-Learning.•The benefits of e-Learning enhance the student's learning process and his feelings as a learner.AbstractThis study examines the attitudes and learning effectiveness of undergraduate students at the faculty of management who studied synchronous e-Learning courses using Zoom system. The attitudes were divided into three categories: attitude toward e-Learning, attitude toward the Zoom system and attitude toward the flexibility of this learning. Five variables of learning effectiveness were measured: skills, understanding, benefits, involvement and motivation. Additionally, the prior experience of the students with e-Learning and the degree of open camera use during the lessons and their effect on attitudes and effectiveness were examined. The study consisted of 120 students using a quantitative questionnaire for data collection. The main results of this study provide strong evidence that prior experience in e-Learning has a significant effect on all of the students' attitudes and their overall satisfaction with the learning method. The previous experience of the students was also found to influence the understanding variable as part of learning effectiveness. Additionally, the degree of open camera use in the synchronous e-Learning lessons was found to affect the students' skills, benefits and involvement during the learning process.