Blending Technologies in the Community of Inquiry Framework: A Discovery of Student Online Learning Pathways

Although online learning is back into the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting positive online learning experience still encounters considerable challenges, such as the rapid development of technology, growing expectations of students, and an increasingly uncertain world. Guided by the community of inquiry (CoI) framework and means-end chain (MEC) theory and repertory grid interview (RGT), this study develops a hierarchical framework of student positive online learning experience. The findings not only confirm that the CoI is integral in promoting a positive online learning experience but also extend CoI in two ways, (1) we include technological attributes as pre-conditions (How) and (2) we incorporate students’ value fulfilment as the consequence of CoI (Why). In addition, this study found that positive online learning experiences can be achieved via not only a CoI-oriented pedagogical approach but also a student’s personal skill development path, further expanding the CoI framework to include the people component