Regional Differences in Experiences of Online Learning Among Chinese College Students and Influencing Factors—Based on Analysis of the Survey Data of 334 Institutions of Higher Education

Abstract Online learning has now become a prominent characteristic of global higher education, and students’ experiences of online learning have become a focal issue in research on online learning. This is not only the premise for assessing the quality of online learning but also the key to promoting regional equity in higher education. This study drew upon the theoretical framework for experiences of online learning, adopting the methods of analysis of variance, multivariable linear regression, Shapley value decomposition, and so on to examine regional differences in college students’ experiences of online learning and influencing factors on the basis of a survey of 226,679 students at 334 institutions of higher education across the country during the pandemic. The study found that both students’ online learning outcomes and their satisfaction exhibited characteristics whereby Eastern China was the best, followed by Central China, and Western China was the worst. Although the regional expression of each factor influencing experiences of online learning also exhibited the aforementioned characteristics, comparatively speaking, technological platforms had the biggest regional differences. Furthermore, social interactions, technological platforms, and environments were the most important factors influencing experiences of online learning among students at institutions of higher education in Eastern, Central, and Western China, and they were also important explanatory factors resulting in regional differences in learning experiences. The most important influencing factors with respect to learning satisfaction were course content and design, while the most important influencing factor with respect to learning outcomes was the learners themselves. This conclusion points to an avenue for improvement of online learning at institutions of higher education in different regions.