Online student engagement and academic outcomes in a Moodle learning management system at an open distance e learning institution

Online student engagement and academic outcomes in a Moodle learning management system at an open distance e learning institution | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Online student engagement and academic outcomes in a Moodle learning management system at an open distance e learning institution Marang Tebogo Mamahlodi This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8788355/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background: Learning Management Systems (LMSs) generate extensive log data that can be used to examine student engagement in online learning environments, particularly within Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) institutions. Aim : This study investigated patterns of online student engagement using LMS log data and examined the relationship between participation levels and engagement dimensions in an ODeL context. Methods : An explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. LMS log-view data were extracted from a postgraduate Applied Health Statistics module offered at the University of South Africa during the 2023,2024 and 2025 longitudinal academic years. A minimum of 65,535 log-view records generated in one year by 266 postgraduate diploma students were analyzed. Engagement was operationalized across behavioral, emotional, and cognitive dimensions using interactions with specific LMS tools. Descriptive statistics were used to examine participation patterns. Results: Students engaged most frequently with assessment-related and cognitively oriented resources, while emotional engagement tools were accessed less frequently. High participation levels were associated with broader and more sustained engagement across LMS tools. Conclusion: LMS log data provide valuable insights into student engagement and can inform targeted student support strategies in ODeL institutions. Student Engagement Learning Management Systems Moodle Learning Analytics Open Distance e-Learning Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 06 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 11 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 18 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 11 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 05 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 14 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 14 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 14 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8788355","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":602305713,"identity":"0b18d9d7-6f6c-42c4-b519-841c69c21fe8","order_by":0,"name":"Marang Tebogo Mamahlodi","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA0klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJACZiCWY2BgbCBJi4Ex6VoSiVev23468XNhzp/0Dbebmz/8YLCTZ+A//ACvFrMzuZulZ24zyN1w52CbZA9DsmEDwzED/FoO5G6Q5gVpuZHYxsDDwJwA9BMBLeffbv4N1JJucCOx+eMfhvoEBmb2D/i13MjdBrIlAailQZqH4XACAxsPAVtuvN1mzbvN2HAm0GHSMgbHDdt4eAoIOCx3823ebXLyfDfSH398U1Etz89/fANeLWgA6CQ2UtSPglEwCkbBKMAOAGUwRIMrI8YLAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"University of South Africa","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marang","middleName":"Tebogo","lastName":"Mamahlodi","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-04 15:38:51","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8788355/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8788355/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":104348486,"identity":"95579e03-d324-4ebf-8461-bf951b6493ba","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-10 18:33:37","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":350701,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"REVISEDARTICLEMTMAMAHLODI14022026.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8788355/v1_covered_523287af-c408-484d-8bad-e4fdd8603db8.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Online student engagement and academic outcomes in a Moodle learning management system at an open distance e learning institution","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-education","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"diedu","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Education](https://www.springer.com/journal/44217)","snPcode":"44217","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44217/3","title":"Discover Education","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Student Engagement, Learning Management Systems, Moodle, Learning Analytics, Open Distance e-Learning","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8788355/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8788355/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground:\u003c/strong\u003e Learning Management Systems (LMSs) generate extensive log data that can be used to examine student engagement in online learning environments, particularly within Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) institutions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAim\u003c/strong\u003e: This study investigated patterns of online student engagement using LMS log data and examined the relationship between participation levels and engagement dimensions in an ODeL context.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e: An explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. LMS log-view data were extracted from a postgraduate Applied Health Statistics module offered at the University of South Africa during the 2023,2024 and 2025 longitudinal academic years. A minimum of 65,535 log-view records generated in one year by 266 postgraduate diploma students were analyzed. Engagement was operationalized across behavioral, emotional, and cognitive dimensions using interactions with specific LMS tools. Descriptive statistics were used to examine participation patterns.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults:\u003c/strong\u003e Students engaged most frequently with assessment-related and cognitively oriented resources, while emotional engagement tools were accessed less frequently. High participation levels were associated with broader and more sustained engagement across LMS tools.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion:\u003c/strong\u003e LMS log data provide valuable insights into student engagement and can inform targeted student support strategies in ODeL institutions.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Online student engagement and academic outcomes in a Moodle learning management system at an open distance e learning institution","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-10 18:33:30","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8788355/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-05-06T10:14:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-12T01:17:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"234394550938920316717885279385974715175","date":"2026-04-04T11:11:43+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-18T10:55:47+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"23550606930097096423503380257793825898","date":"2026-03-11T06:49:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-05T11:12:35+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-14T07:44:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-02-14T07:27:28+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Education","date":"2026-02-14T07:23:39+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-education","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"diedu","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Education](https://www.springer.com/journal/44217)","snPcode":"44217","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44217/3","title":"Discover Education","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"50025536-7a03-4cd9-a585-1241d86d5368","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 10th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-05-06T10:14:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-14T07:08:16+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-10 18:33:30","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8788355","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8788355","identity":"rs-8788355","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}