A survey of the attitudes of students in Thailand towards technology-based distance education

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Authors
Shinasharkey, Taminee
Advisor
Hsieh, Samuel C.
Issue Date
2004
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (D. Ed.)
Department
Department of Computer Science
Other Identifiers
Abstract

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the factors that students considered important in taking distance learning and attitudes of students toward the technology-based distance learning in Thailand. The three main attitude components that were examined in this study were affective, behavioral, and cognitive. The additional components: usefulness, quality, and interaction of technology used in distance learning in Thailand were also examined in this study.Participants of this study were students at Ramkhamhaeng University in Thailand. The questionnaires were used as survey instruments. The questionnaires were distributed by email and paper. Students could complete the questionnaire either by web or by paper. The questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate students around Thailand by staffs of Ramkhamhaeng University. Valid survey responses were received from 307 students; 148 males and 159 females. Based on the analysis of the qualified data, the sample mean scores were significantly higher than the hypothesized mean scores. Students were considered to have positive attitudes toward affective component, behavioral component, and cognitive component. Students also had positive attitudes towards the usefulness, interaction, and quality of technology used in technology-based distance learning in Thailand.The most important factor that students considered in taking distance learning was their work requirements. By gender, male students considered earning more money or getting promoted as their important factor. Female students considered work requirements as their important factor.Students considered most technologies in this study to be useful. However, some students have not had experience with some technologies that they believed were useful. Therefore, institutes and instructors should encourage students to use technologies that universities have currently employed. Institutes should offer training sessions to both instructors and students, so that they can effectively use these technologies in their teaching and learning.