Effects Of Students’ Characteristics On Online Learning Readiness: 
A Vocational College Example

Year 2014, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 80 - 93, 01.09.2014

Harun Cıgdem

https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.69439

Cited By: 17

Abstract

Educational institutions rapidly adopt concepts and practices of online learning systems for students. But many institutions’ online learning programs face enormous difficulty in achieving successful strategies. It is essential to evaluate its different aspects and understand factors which influence its effectiveness. Readiness stands out among the variables that influence online learning effectiveness. Therefore, it is important to examine online learning readiness (OLR) and students’ characteristics that affect OLR. This paper reports relationship between student characteristics and OLR at vocational college. Quantitative method was used to collect relevant data in this study. Hung et al.’s Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS) was administered to 725 vocational college students, in Balıkesir. OLRS has 18 items grouped into five factors; computer/Internet self-efficacy (CIS), self-directed learning (SDL), learner control (LC), motivation for learning (ML), and online communication self-efficacy (OCS). t-test and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to determine if there were significant differences in online learning readiness across the students’ characteristics. The study revealed that students surveyed overall ready for online learning but they need to improve themselves especially in CIS and OCS in order to be successful at online learning. Students’ characteristics (PC ownership, department, type of high school graduation) significantly affect learners’ in some dimensions of OLRS especially CIS dimension. The research findings were discussed in line with the literature and some suggestions were presented for further research and researchers.

Keywords

Online Learning Readiness, Vocational College, Readiness Factors

References

• Aydin, C. H. & Tasci, D. (2005). Measuring Readiness for e-Learning: Reflections from an
• Emerging Country. Educational Technology & Society, 8 (4), 244-257. Baeten, M., Kyndt, E., Struyven, K. & Dochy, F. (2010). Using student-centred learning environments to stimulate deep approaches to learning: factors encouraging or discouraging their effectiveness. Educational Research Review, 5(3), 243–260.
• Borgman, C.L. Gallagher, A.L. Hirsch, S.G. & Walter, V.A. (1995). Children’s searching behaviours on browsing and keyword online catalogs: The science library catalog. Journal of the American Society for Information Science. 46 (9), 663-684.
• Bowles, M. (2004). Relearning to E-learn: strategies for electronic learning and knowledge. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
• Chao R-J. & Chen, Y-H. (2009). Evaluation of the criteria and effectiveness of distance e- learning with consistent fuzzy preference relations. Expert Systems with Applications 36, 10657–10662.
• Guglielmino, P. & Guglielmino, L. (2003). Are your learners ready for e-learning? In G.
• Piskurich (Ed.), The AMA handbook of e-learning. New York: American Management Association. Hannafin, M. J. (1984). Guidelines for using locus of instructional control in the design of computer-assisted instruction. Journal of Instructional Development, 7(3), 6–10.
• Hogo, M. A. (2010). Evaluation of E-Learning systems based on fuzzy clustering models and statistical tools. Expert Systems with Applications, 37, 6891-6903.
• Hsu, Y. C. & Shiue, Y. M. (2005). The effect of self-directed learning readiness on achievement comparing face-to-face and two-way distance learning instruction. International Journal of Instructional Media, 32 (2), 143-155.
• Hung, M., Chou, C., Chen, C. & Own, Z. (2010). Learner readiness for online learning:
• Scale development and student perceptions, Computers & Education, 55, 1080–1090.
• Ilhan, M. & Çetin, B. (2013). The validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of an online learning readiness scale. Educational Technology Theory and Practice, 3(2), 72
• Kaymak, Z. D. & Horzum, M.B. (2013). Relationship between online learning readiness and structure and interaction of online learning students. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 13 (3), 1792-1797.
• Kehoe, J. (1995). Basic item analysis for multiple-choice tests. Practical Assessment,
• Research & Evaluation, 4(10). Retrieved from http://PAREonline.net/getvn.asp?v=4&n=10 Keramati, A., Afshari-Mofrad, M. & Kamran, A. (2011). The role of readiness factors in E- learning outcomes: An empirical study. Computers & Education, 57, 1919–1929.
• Khan, B. (2005). Managing E-Learning Strategies: Design, Delivery, Implementation and Evaluation. London: Information Science Publishing.
• Lee, M.-C. (2010). Explaining and predicting users’ continuance intention toward e- learning: an extension of the expectation–confirmation model. Computers & Education, 54, 506–516.
• Lee, B.-C., Yoon, J.-O. & Lee, I. (2010). Learners’ acceptance of e-learning in South
• Korea: Theories and results. Computers & Education, 53, 1320-1329.
• McVay, M. (2001). How to be a successful distance learning student: Learning on the Internet. New York: Prentice Hall.
• Moolman, H.B. & Blignaut, S. (2008). Get set e-Ready, … e-Learn The e-Readiness of
• Warehouse Workers. Educational Technology & Society, 11 (1), 168-182. Morrison, D. (2003). E-learning strategies: how to get implementation and delivery right first time. Chichester, Jhon Wiley & Sons.
• Park, S. Y. (2009). An analysis of the technology acceptance model in understanding university students’ behavioral intention to use e-learning. Educational Technology & Society, 12(3), 150–162.
• Peng, H., Tsai, C.-C, & Wu, Y.-T. (2006). University students' selfefficacy and their attitudes toward the Internet: the role of students' perceptions of the Internet.
• Educational Studies, 32(1), 73-86. Powell, G. C. (2000). Are You Ready for Web-Based Training? Educational Technology & Society, 3 (1), 52-55.
• Reeves, T. C. (1993). Pseudoscience in computer-based instruction: the case of lecturer control research. Journal of Computer-based Instruction, 20(2), 39–46.
• Saadé, R. G., He, X. & Kira, D. (2007). Exploring dimensions to online learning. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(4), 1721–1739.
• Schreurs, J., Sammour, G. & Ehlers, U. (2008). E-learning Readiness Analysis (ERA): an e-health case study of e-learning Readiness. Int. J. Knowledge and Learning, Vol. 4 (5), 496-508.
• Shyu, H. Y. & Brown, S. W. (1992). Learner control versus program control in interactive videodisc instruction: what are the effects in procedural learning? International Journal of Instructional Media, 19(2), 85–95.
• Stansfield, M., McLellan, E. & Connolly, T. (2004). Enhancing student performance in online learning and traditional face-to-face class delivery. Journal of Information
• Technology Education 3, 173-188. Smith, P. J. (2000). Preparedness for flexible delivery among vocational learners.
• Distance Education, 21(1), 29–48. Smith, P. J. (2001). Learners and their workplaces: Towards a strategic model of flexible delivery of training in the workplace. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 53(4), 609–628.
• Tang, S. F. & Lim, C. L. (2013). Undergraduate Students’ Readiness In E-Learning : A
• Study At The Business School in a Malaysian Private University. International Journal of Management & Information Technology, 4 (2). 198-204. Wang, W.-T. & Wang, C.-C. (2009). An empirical study of instructor adoption of web- based learning systems. Computers & Education, 53, 761–774.
• Wang, Q., Zhu, Z., Chen, L. & Yan, H. (2009). E-Learning in China. Campus-Wide
• Information Systems, 26, 47–61. Warner, D., Christie, G. & Choy, S. (1998). Readiness of VET clients for flexible delivery including on-line learning. Brisbane: Australian National Training Authority.
• Wattakiecharoen, J. & Nilsook, P. (2013). e-Learning Readiness of PhD. Students.
• International Conference on Excellent Innovation for Educational Research and IT Learning in the 21st Century. Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University, Thailand. Yukselturk, E. & Bulut, S. (2007). Predictors for Student Success in an Online Course.
• Educational Technology & Society, 10(2), 71-83. Yurdugül, H. & Alsancak Sarıkaya, D. (2013). The scale of online learning readiness: a study of validity and reliability. Education and Science, 38 (169), 391-406