Technology-enabled learning and perceived learning outcomes in online higher education

Technology-enabled learning (TEL) enables institutions to provide flexible learning environments and technology-supported instructional practices, as it has become a central feature of online higher education. However, empirical evidence explaining how perceived learning outcomes (PLO) are associated with technology-enabled learning (TEL), particularly in developing-country contexts, remains limited. Using survey data collected from 434 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in online higher education programmes in India, this study examines the relationships among TEL, flexible learning (FL), motivation (MO), self-regulated learning (SRL), and PLO. The proposed conceptual model was tested by employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings suggest that TEL is indirectly associated with PLO through FL, MO, and SRL. Learner motivation and self-regulated learning were positively related to Flexible Learning, which in turn, were associated with enhanced perceived learning outcomes. The model demonstrated substantial explanatory power, highlighting the importance of pedagogically designed technology-supported flexibility in online learning environments. The study provides empirical evidence that flexible learning functions as a key pedagogical mechanism linking technology-enabled learning with perceived learning outcomes, thereby contributing to the educational technology literature. The findings also offer practical implications for policymakers, higher education institutions and instructional designers, seeking to strengthen perceived learning outcomes through pedagogically informed technology-enabled learning strategies.