Enhancing Student Engagement and Satisfaction Through Active Learning in an Online Healthcare Administration Course Redesign

Authors

  • Hwangji Lu The University of Arizona Global Campus, Chandler, Arizona, USA Author
  • Robert Smiles The University of Arizona Global Campus, Chandler, Arizona, USA Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-gjefm/V2E5/2026-01

Keywords:

active learning, course redesign, online learning, student engagement, student satisfaction

Abstract

The rapid evolution of telecommunication technology has facilitated the expansion of educational boundaries beyond physical limits. Higher education institutions have incorporated online modality to deliver courses. Since the quality of course design or redesign is a key performance indicator for any higher education institution, it has become increasingly important for academic leaders to ensure high-quality course design that encourages student engagement, student satisfaction, and academic success. This study examined the effectiveness of a redesigned online introductory healthcare administration course that integrated active learning strategies to enhance student engagement, satisfaction, and academic outcomes. Using a mixed-methods research design, quantitative and qualitative data were collected from multiple sources, including in-house student survey, standardized end-of-course survey, Power BI course metrics, instructor observations, and qualitative student comments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses. Findings reveal that students in this revised course reported high levels of satisfaction with the course design and active learning assessments. Instructor flexibility, timely feedback, and clear course instructions were particularly valued. The results suggest that intentional course redesign grounded in active learning principles can improve students' learning experiences and sustain academic persistence in online graduate healthcare administration education.

References

1) Ariel, N., Millikovsky-Ayalon, M., & Kimchi-Feldhorn, O. (2023). Watching the backstage of your mind: Redesigning learning how to learn. Education and Information Technologies, 28(8), 9709–9730. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11580-4

2) Carroll, J. (2023) A correlational quantitative study exploring the relationship between faculty’s pedagogical strategies in online classrooms and factors influencing active instruction (Publication No. 30523923). [Doctoral dissertation, Drexel University]. ProQuest dissertations & Theses Global. https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/correlational-quantitative-study-exploring/docview/2842706017/se-2

3) Creed, J. M., Cone, A., Chappell, K. K., & Davis, V. H. (2023). It’s the experience: A course redesign to shift student perspectives on population-centered nursing. Nursing Education Perspectives, 44(2), 124–125. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000961

4) Doyle, C., & Chiu, Y.-T. (2023). Blending modalities, pedagogies, and technologies: Redesigning an information systems course to encourage engagement. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 53(1), 322–341.https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.05313

5) Elshami, W., Taha, M. H., Abuzaid, M., Saravanan, C., Al Kawas, S., & Abdalla, M. E. (2021). Satisfaction with online learning in the new normal: Perspective of students and faculty at medical and health sciences colleges. Medical Education Online, 26(1),1920090. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2021.1920090

6) El-Thalji, I. (2025). Boosting active learning through a gamified flipped classroom: A retrospective case study in higher engineering education. Education Sciences, 15(4), 430. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15040430

7) Fanshawe, M., Brown, A., & Redmond, P. (2025). Using an online engagement framework to redesign the learning environment for higher education students: A design experiment approach. Online Learning (Newburyport, Mass.), 29(2). https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v29i2.4447

8) Fink, L. D. (2013). Creating significant learning experiences—An integrated approach to designing college courses. Jossey-Bass.

9) Goetzke, A. K., & Lumpe, A. (2025). Academic leadership perceptions of online program quality and course design. Online Learning (Newburyport, Mass.), 29(2). https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v29i2.4410

10) Jahani, M.-A., Ghanavatizadeh, A., Delavari, S., Abbasi, M., Nikbakht, H.-A., Farhadi, Z., Darzi, A., & Mahmoudi, G. (2023). Strengthening e-learning strategies for active learning in crisis situations: A mixed-method study in the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Medical Education, 23(1), Article 754. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04725-z

11) Kerimbayev, N., Umirzakova, Z., Shadiev, R. & Vladimir, J. (2023). A student-centered approach using modern technologies in distance learning: a systematic review of the literature. Smart Learning Environments, 10(61). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561- 023- 00280-8

12) Majeed, S., Zaidi, N. N., Moin, H., & Shafi, R. (2021). Impact of priming with the help of videos on the students’ learning experiences in undergraduate medical education, Pakistan, Journal of physiology, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v17i4.1396

13) Martin, F., & Bolliger, D.U. (2022). Developing an online learner satisfaction framework in higher education through a systematic review of research. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 19, 50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-022-00355-5

14) Martínez-Argüelles, M.-J., Plana-Erta, D., & Fitó-Bertran, À. (2022). Impact of using authentic online learning environments on students’ perceived employability. Educational Technology Research and Development, 71(2), 605–627. https:// doi. org/ 10. 1007/s11423- 022- 10171-3

15) Morgan, A. (2024). Enhancing access in an online course using universal design for learning (UDL) and scenario-based learning (SBL). TechTrends, 68(5), 904–913. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00981-y

16) Pallangyo, E., & Isangula, K. (2023). Promoting students’ meaningful engagement in active learning within a group setting: Reflections on teaching and learning using Brookfield’s Four Lenses Model. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 23(10), 198–209. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i10.6194

17) Ratan, R., Ucha, C., Lei, Y., Lim, C., Triwibowo, W., Yelon, S., Sheahan, A., Lamb, B., Deni, B., & Hua Chen, V. H. (2022). How do social presence and active learning in synchronous and asynchronous online classes relate to students’ perceived course gains? Computers and Education, 191, Article 104621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104621

18) Sciutto, M. J. (2024). Redesigning and assessing a statistics course: Thinking beyond the pandemic. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology, 10(4), 355–369. https://doi.org/10.1037/stl0000291

19) Sheridan, L., & Gigliotti, A. (2023). Designing online teaching curriculum to optimise learning for all students in higher education. Curriculum Journal (London, England), 34(4), 651–673. https://doi.org/10.1002/curj.208

20) Steenkamp, G., & van Schalkwyk, O. (2023). Active learning in an online postgraduate research module: Perceptions of Accounting students and lecturers. South African Journal of Higher Education, 37(2), 233–250. https://doi.org/10.20853/37-2-4872

21) Van Wart, M., McIntyre, M., Zhang, J., Medina, P., Ni, A., & Njualem, L. (2025). The perceived importance of active learning techniques in online STEM courses. Computers and Education Open, 9, Article 100309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeo.2025.100309

22) Wong, W. H., & Chapman, E. (2023). Student satisfaction and interaction in higher education. Higher Education. 85(5), 957-978. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00874-0

23) Yin, X., Zhang, J., Li, G., & Luo, H. (2024). Understanding learner satisfaction in virtual learning environments: Serial mediation effects of cognitive and social-emotional factors. Electronics, 13(12), 2277. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13122277

24) Yousaf, A., Moin, H., Majeed, S., Shafi, R., & Mansoor, S. (2023). The positive impact of introducing modified directed self-learning using pre-small group discussion worksheets as an active learning strategy in undergraduate medical education. Medical Education Online, 28(1), 2204547. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2023.2204547

Downloads

Published

2026-05-12

How to Cite

Lu , H., & Smiles , R. (2026). Enhancing Student Engagement and Satisfaction Through Active Learning in an Online Healthcare Administration Course Redesign. Global Journal of Education, Finance and Management, 2(05), 19-26. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-gjefm/V2E5/2026-01