Revisiting online learning readiness: Scale development and insights from Taiwanese elementary school students

This study developed and validated a scale for assessing online learning readiness among students aged 10 to 12 years in grades 4 to 6. The scale is called the Online Learning Readiness Scale for Elementary School (OLRS-E). To establish the reliability and validity of the scale, expert insights were gathered using the fuzzy Delphi method, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on separate samples of 152 and 423 students, respectively. The OLRS-E comprises four key dimensions. Self-directed learning measures students’ motivation and ability to regulate their own learning behaviors. Communication self-efficacy assesses students’ confidence in expressing themselves and interacting in online environments. Family support captures the practical and emotional assistance students receive from caregivers during online learning. Technical support reflects students’ perceived competence in using digital tools and resolving basic technological issues. Among these, technical support yielded the highest score, indicating a high degree of technological readiness among Taiwanese elementary school students, followed by family support and communication self-efficacy. By contrast, self-directed learning yielded the lowest score, indicating a lower degree of self-directed learning readiness among these students. Overall, these findings of student readiness have major implications for parents and teachers regarding online learning efficacy.