Self-determination and perceived learning in online learning communities

Abstract This study explores the interplay between Self-Determination (SDT), relatedness, and teaching presence and CoI’s presence (teaching, cognitive, and social) in the context of online educational settings within China. Specifically, the study employs the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to investigate the interaction between SDT (Self-Determination, relatedness, and competence) and the perceived learning outcomes (autonomy, competence, and perceived learning). The underlying structure of the study’s conceptual framework was analyzed through the measurement model and the discriminant validity assessment. The results show that cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence are significantly associated with autonomy, competence, relevance, and perceived learning. Moreover, cognitive presence and social presence can potentially augment cognitive processes, amplifying the mediating role of relatedness between cognitive presence and learning outcomes.