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Validation of a Spanish version of the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (DELES) in Spain

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the Spanish version of the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (Sp-DELES). This instrument assesses students’ perceptions of virtual learning environments using six scales: Instructor Support, Student Interaction and Collaboration, Personal Relevance, Authentic Learning, Active Learning, and Autonomy. Further, the Sp-DELES includes an additional scale that assesses students’ Satisfaction with their classes. The original DELES has been used in at least 27 independent studies with strong reliability and validity. For this study, we sampled 265 students from the University of Alicante enrolled in various hybrid and distance education courses taught by the Department of Health Psychology. We analysed the Sp-DELES for validity using principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation, and for reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. The Sp-DELES exhibited good reliability (Cronbach’s alpha for the scales ranging from 0.86 to 0.97) and the original six-factor structure was replicated and accounted for 72.9 % of the total variance. Overall the results are consistent with those of the original English-language version of the instrument. The Sp-DELES has proven to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychosocial learning environments in tertiary-level hybrid and distance-education settings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain

    Maria Dolores Fernández-Pascual, Rosario Ferrer-Cascales, Abilio Reig-Ferrer & Natalia Albaladejo-Blázquez

  2. Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Scott L. Walker

Authors
  1. Maria Dolores Fernández-Pascual
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  2. Rosario Ferrer-Cascales
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  3. Abilio Reig-Ferrer
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  4. Natalia Albaladejo-Blázquez
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  5. Scott L. Walker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott L. Walker.

Appendix: DELES in Spanish and English

Appendix: DELES in Spanish and English

Directions for students

This survey contains 34 statements about practices that take place in this class, followed by eight statements regarding your opinion about distance education.

There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers. Your opinion is what is wanted on each item. Please think about how well each statement describes what this class is like for you.

Instrucciones para los estudiantes

Esta encuesta contiene 34 afirmaciones acerca de las actividades que se realizan en esta asignatura y 8 cuestiones adicionales en las que se evalúa su grado de satisfacción con la metodología de enseñanza-aprendizaje utilizada en la misma.

No hay respuestas correctas ni incorrectas. Lo que se solicita en cada ítem es su opinión sobre las cuestiones planteadas. Piense bien cada frase antes de responder.

Spanish version

English version

Apoyo Profesorado

Instructor Support

1. Si tengo alguna duda, el profesorado encuentra tiempo para responderme

1. If I have an inquiry, the instructor finds time to respond

2. El profesorado me ayuda a identificar las dificultades en la materia de estudio

2. The instructor helps me identify problem areas in my study

3. El profesorado responde rápidamente a mis preguntas

3. The instructor responds promptly to my questions

4. El profesorado me proporciona feedback (información) valioso sobre la realización de mis tareas (prácticas, trabajos, etc.)

4. The instructor gives me valuable feedback on my assignments

5. El profesorado orienta de manera adecuada mis preguntas

5. The instructor adequately addresses my questions

6. El profesorado me anima a participar

6. The instructor encourages my participation

7. Es fácil ponerse en contacto con el profesorado

7. It is easy to contact the instructor

8. El profesorado me proporciona feedback (información) positivo y negativo sobre mi trabajo

8. The instructor provides me positive and negative feedback on my work

Interacción y Colaboración entre estudiantes

Student Interaction and Collaboration

9. Trabajo con otros estudiantes

9. I work with others

10. Mi trabajo se complementa con el trabajo de otros estudiantes

10. I relate my work to other’s work

11. Comparto información con otros estudiantes

11. I share information with other students

12. Debato mis ideas con otros estudiantes

12. I discuss my ideas with other students

13. Colaboro con otros estudiantes

13. I collaborate with other students in the class

14. El trabajo en grupo es una parte de mis actividades

14. Group work is a part of my activities

Relevancia Personal

Personal Relevance

15. Puedo aprovechar lo que he aprendido de la vida fuera de la Universidad

15. I can relate what I learn to my life outside of university

16. Soy capaz de abordar temas que me interesan

16. I am able to pursue topics that interest me

17. Puedo conectar lo que estudio con mis actividades fuera de clase

17. I can connect my studies to my activities outside of class

18. Puedo aplicar mi experiencia diaria

18. I apply my everyday experiences in class

19. El trabajo que realizo lo aprovecho para mi vida fuera de la Universidad

19. I link class work to my life outside of university

20. Aprendo cosas de la vida de fuera de la Universidad

20. I learn things about the world outside of university

21. Aplico mi experiencia personal

21. I apply my out-of-class experience

Aprendizaje real

Authentic Learning

22. Estudio casos reales relacionados con la misma

22. I study real cases related to the class

23. Utilizo casos reales en las actividades de clase

23. I use real facts in class activities

24. Trabajo con tareas que guardan relación con información del mundo real

24. I work on assignments that deal with real-world information

25. Trabajo con ejemplos reales

25. I work with real examples

26. Entro en la realidad de la materia de estudio

26. I enter the real world of the topic of study

Aprendizaje Activo

Active Learning

27. Exploro mis propias estrategias para el aprendizaje

27. I explore my own strategies for learning

28. Me esfuerzo por encontrar mis propias respuestas

28. I seek my own answers

29. Resuelvo mis propios problemas

29. I solve my own problems

Autonomía

Student Autonomy

30. Tomo decisiones sobre mi aprendizaje

30. I make decisions about my learning

31. Trabajo el tiempo que creo conveniente

31. I work during times I find convenient

32. Controlo mi aprendizaje

32. I am in control of my learning

33. Desempeño un papel importante en mi aprendizaje

33. I play an important role in my learning

34. Dirijo mi aprendizaje a mi manera

34. I approach learning in my own way

Satisfacción

Enjoyment

35. La formación a distancia es estimulante

35. Distance education is stimulating

36. Prefiero la formación a distancia

36. I prefer distance education

37. La formación a distancia es apasionante

37. Distance education is exciting

38. El tiempo que empleo en la formación a distancia me merece la pena

38. Distance education is worth my time

39. Disfruto estudiando con la formación a distancia

39. I enjoy studying by distance

40. Espero con interés aprender con la formación a distancia

40. I look forward to learning by distance

41. Disfrutaría más de mi formación si todas mis asignaturas fueran a distancia

41. I would enjoy my education more if all my classes were by distance

42. Estoy satisfecho/a con la formación a distancia utilizada en esta asignatura

42. I am satisfied with this class

  1. Opciones de respuesta: Siempre, A menudo, A veces, Rara vez y Nunca
  2. Response choices are: Always, Often, Sometimes, Seldom, and Never

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Fernández-Pascual, M.D., Ferrer-Cascales, R., Reig-Ferrer, A. et al. Validation of a Spanish version of the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (DELES) in Spain. Learning Environ Res 18, 179–196 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-015-9179-0

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