A Blended Learning Strategy in Using E-Learning: University Students' Perceptions
Abdul Malek
Abdul Karim
Ahmad Jelani Shaari
Nurahimah Mohd. Yusoff
Universiti Utara Malaysia,
Malaysia
Paper: 1/2 hour
Empowerment, Enhancement, Enrichment
In 1999, John Chambers, the CEO of Cisco Systems said that "The biggest growth in the Internet, and the area that will prove to be one of the biggest agents of change, will be in e-learning". True enough, we are now seeing many higher educational institutions worldwide embarking on the use of e-learning. In Malaysia, institutions of higher learning are now in various stages of implementing e-learning; from selecting a Learning Management System (LMS), designing materials to integrating e-learning into their existing curriculum. This study describes an experience in using e-learning in higher education. It specifically deals with issues on the attitudes and beliefs as well as the self-efficacy of the students towards a LMS. The patterns of use and problems pertaining to the use of the LMS will also be discussed in this paper. The study incorporates both quantitative and qualitative designs. After using the LMS for one full semester, a group of students were given a survey to complete and selected students were interviewed to obtain their perceptions towards the newly launched LMS. The LMS was used to supplement a traditional teaching approach. In general, the findings showed that students have positive attitudes towards e-learning. Despite having low computer competency, many students found the experience enjoyable and believed it benefited their university learning. As the LMS was new, students faced technical difficulties including network connection problems and glitches in the performance of the LMS. The paper also suggests several recommendations that need to be considered to successfully implement e-learning.
