Computer Anxiety, Computer Self-efficacy and Attitudes towards the Internet of First Year Students at a South African University of Technology

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 72-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlie L. Schlebusch
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Computer Anxiety ◽  
The Internet ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Computer Self Efficacy

scholarly journals The relationship between self-efficacy and reading proficiency of first-year students: An exploratory study

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi A.N.Y. Boakye
Keyword(s):  
Reading Instruction ◽  
South African ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Academic Literacy ◽  
Reading Proficiency ◽  
First Year ◽  
Tertiary Institution ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
The Relationship

Self-efficacy, which is the belief about one’s ability to perform a task successfully, has been widely acknowledged as important in learning. This affective factor, though not explicitly evident, has been said to play an important role in academic performance. However, its role in reading development has not been widely investigated. To determine the relationship between self-efficacy and reading proficiency, a study was conducted with first-year students in a South African tertiary institution. Students’ self-efficacy levels were elicited through a questionnaire and their reading proficiency was obtained through the Test of Academic Literacy levels (TALL), which essentially assesses reading proficiency. An analysis of variance showed a robust relationship between reading self-efficacy and reading proficiency for this cohort of students. Regression analysis conducted with other affective factors showed self-efficacy as the best predictor of students’ reading proficiency. Results are discussed as they relate to previous research and recommendations are made to include the development of self-efficacy in reading instruction.

scholarly journals Perceptions of First-Year Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds on E-Learning at a South African University of Technology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serathi Molokwane ◽  
Luther-King Zogli
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
South African ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
First Year ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
School Career ◽  
E Learning

The introduction of innovative e-learning and teaching methods at universities of technologies necessitates the examining of students’ perceptions of these methods in the promotion of student success. In South Africa, the majority of first-year students are not exposed to technology-aided learning methodology during their high school career, especially those from disadvantaged demographics. The purpose of the study is to examine student perceptions regarding their experience of e-learning at a South African university of technology with specific reference to the success of first-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Using qualitative research methods through semi-structured interviews, the researchers discovered that first-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds are experiencing challenges in terms of access to resources such as computers, laptops and reliable internet connection. Furthermore, inadequate training on the use of online resources and unsatisfactory performance during online assessment were discovered and these are heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. First-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds are exposed to a variety of barriers that have an adverse impact on their success. The study recommends that higher education institutes provide the necessary resources to facilitate seamless assimilation of first-year students into the new environment.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and Higher Education: First-Year Students’ Expectations toward Distance Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Cicha ◽  
Mariia Rizun ◽  
Paulina Rutecka ◽  
Artur Strzelecki
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Computer Anxiety ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
E Learning

The article deals with distance education, which as a teaching method had to be suddenly introduced in schools and higher education institutions as a result of the global pandemic situation. The paper captures the second wave of Poland’s pandemic situation in relation to global circumstances and the methods of conducting distance learning used across the globe. The purpose of this study was to investigate first-year students’ expectations about the education shift to distance learning. GETAMEL, which is the adapted General Extended Technology Acceptance Model for E-Learning, was used in the study. The study analyzed the influence of Experience, Subjective Norms, Enjoyment, Computer Anxiety, and Self-Efficacy on students’ expectations in the context of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. To test the research model presented during the research, The Partial Least Squares method of Structural Equation Modeling was used. An online survey was created to conduct the research, which collected data from 670 Polish first-year undergraduate students. The acquired data were analyzed using the SmartPLS 3 software. The results of the research indicated that the most important factors that influence the feelings of students and can convince them to change from teaching in the classroom to teaching in the distance learning model are the feeling of pleasure in this form of education and a sense of self-efficacy. The results of this study may be of particular interest to education practitioners, including teachers, and a starting point for further research on e-learning models, including, in particular, the understanding of students’ expectations regarding distance learning.

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