A study of Web‐based learning (WBL) environment in Malaysia

Abstract

The advance of online technology and instructional delivery such as Web-based learning (WBL) has heralded new changes in education. Students using the WBL environment in various courses at eight universities in Malaysia were surveyed. Results showed that five main factors influence the effectiveness of the online learning process: students' behavior, characteristics of lecturers, interactive application, technology or system, and the institutions. Results indicated that students' grades are highly correlated with student perception, self-efficacy and interactivity. The WBL learners do not outperform traditional learners. There is also a need to improve the quality of WBL due to differences in adaptation styles of learners in the process.

An empirical examination of individual and system characteristics on enhancing e-learning acceptance

“…Such problems are associated with the availability of telephone lines, electricity, and internet connections. Poon, Low and Yong (2004) strengthened this claim by noting that problems with connectivity and low browsing speeds will deter students from taking online courses. Therefore, technology must be designed and managed carefully in order to meet the basic demands of an online learning system.…”

The Relationships between Technology and Different Teaching Role Attributes of Instructors in Malaysia

“…In the education arena, instructors have been reported as being optimistic with the technology potential to enhance their teaching practice quality (Shen et al, 2008;Siragusa and Dixon, 2006;Ryan et al, 2004) despite their positive and negative comments about technology impact on their job (Marlia, 2007;Hacifazlioglu et al, 2005;Poon et al, 2004). Given the inconsistency in the influence of technology on job characteristics, it is interesting to examine the impact on instructors who are using different levels of technology that range from low to high level sophistication.…”

A Qualitative Inquiry of Online Instruction among Teachers in Malaysian Universities and Colleges

“…[7]. Self-directed learning has found to be a significant approach for online teaching and learning , more befitting students who are independent learners among students in institutions of higher education [4], [6]. This finding may indicate that teachers, who are also learners when it comes to new teaching and learning technologies, may also find it easier to adopt if they are self-directed learners themselves.…”

“…The facilitator must play an active role in the learning process because increased interaction and timely feedback from the facilitator proved to have positive effects on the learners' exam and assignments results [8]. In a study on distance learning in Malaysia, a "hybrid mode of learning" was suggested to be more suitable for learners [4]. Past researches explained the learners' difficulties in affordability, access and time to learn new learning technologies [6], [9].…”