The use of audio materials in open and distance learning

One of the important areas where sound recordings are used is open and distance learning milieus. The aim of this study is to examine the use of audio materials by Anadolu University Open Education System learners. In this context, the opinions of the learners towards the audible materials, their preferences for using the materials, the reasons for not using these materials, the success of the learners with regard to the use of the audio materials; whether the factors of self-regulated learning scale, independent study skills and satisfaction differ significantly in terms of demographic characteristics of learners using audio material; and lastly how factors of the self-regulated learning scale and how independent study skills affect the satisfaction of learners who use audio materials with audio materials were investigated. In the study, the exploratory sequential mixed method was used in which qualitative and then quantitative data were collected. In the qualitative phase of the study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews from 20 learners, and in the quantitative phase, questionnaires from 4,232 learners and learning analytics covering all learners enrolled in the Open Education System. Qualitative data were analyzed by descriptive analysis method and quantitative data were analyzed by ANOVA, t-test and multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS V.25 program. According to the results of the study, learners generally like audio materials; they listen mostly at home via using mobile phones. The reasons for not using the learners who have never used audio material are that they do not know the existence of audio materials, they do not find it productive, they prefer reading to listening, they find sound recording bad, they do not have enough time etc. Therefore, it has been concluded that the learners who use audio materials are more successful than the learners who do not use those materials. When the demographic characteristics of the learners who listen to the audio material are examined, the factors of the self-regulated learning scale, their independent study skills and satisfaction differ significantly according to some variables. In addition, the factors of the self-regulated learning scale and the ability to work independently affect the satisfaction of the learners who use audio materials in a positive way. According to the results, suggestions were presented in order to use the audio materials more effectively by the learners in the study.