E-learning readiness among young

students in Malaysia

E-learning has received numerous attentions from higher education because the need to change the mode of learning and e-learning has become an increasingly important part of higher education today.

Information technology (IT) has been viewed as a solution to students’ distance, time and cost. IT in teaching and learning has created a need to transform how university students learn by using more modern, efficient, and efficient alternative such as e-learning.

Due to the rapid growth of web-based technologies and the high usage of the Internet have made teaching and learning via internet, or e-learning, more viable in recent years.

Traditional distance learning

Present e-learning

Definition Correspondence teaching; multimedia distance learning.

Learning anytime anywhere, with the use of interactive network technologies

Education paradigm

Passive learners Active Learners

Interaction Lack of direct interaction between the teacher and the learner

Asynchoronous interaction

Interactions between instructor and learner, and among learners

Asynchoronous/ synchoronous

Technology Written or printed materials

All electronic media

Researchers FindingsJefferies & Hussain, (1998); Poon et al., 2004) and Volery & Lord., (2000).

The use of electronic learning (e-learning) as a medium of instruction in distance learning is also becoming increasingly important in Malaysia

Hong et al. (2003) Students have high level of acceptance with the web-based course. They indicated that the web-based course was convenient and flexible. Nonetheless, some students faced difficulties with the web-based learning environment.

Researchers FindingsPoon et al. (2004) Students in Malaysia were

not fully comfortable with e-learning.

Lee et al.(2010) Young students in Malaysia feel that e-learning does not have human touch as compared to traditional class room teaching although most of them have high computer skills and have own website(s) or blog(s)

Asirvatham et al.( 2005) Malaysia is moderately ready for e-learning

Traditional learning ODL learningFlexibility DOES NOT EXIST EXISTGeographical coverage

ONE specific location ANYWHERE in the world

Delivery method Face-to-face Online, blended learning

Learning tools Classrooms Chatrooms, emails, forums, bulletin boards, network websites etc

A total of 312 young school leavers who are currently undertaking their tertiary education using the traditional classroom in private higher education in Malaysia is the sample for this study.

This study aims to study the perception and the level of readiness of the young learners in doing education using the “e” approach.

Out from the sample, the female and male respondents are of 61% and 39% respectively.

The nationality of respondents; 94% are Malaysian and only 6% are foreign respondents.

Majority of the respondents are aged between 15-20, followed by respondents aged between 21-25 with 72%. There is a very small number of respondents with an age of above 26.

There is NO SIGNIFICANT difference the means obtained between gender, age group with the readiness to learn all courses online.

The gender have a significant difference perception on the readiness to learn all courses online as the significant level is 0.035.

The perception of quality delivered through online is the same as traditional classroom teaching regardless of age for this sample, with significant value of 0.169.

In summary, based on this study, Malaysian young students are relatively ready to accept e-learning for all courses for all aged in this study. Also, Malaysian young students did not perceive any difference in quality in online learning.

However, there is a difference in perception on the readiness to do all courses online on gender.

Based on this study, young students are keen to accept online learning because it can save cost and convenience where they can do their learning anytime anywhere.

However, most of them are worry that online learning will have lack of human touch, inadequate interaction between the instructor and the students.

END

THANK YOU