Adoption of Online Courses in Higher Education: Evaluating the Readiness of Business Students and Faculty

Abstract

This chapter examines the state of readiness towards adopting online distance education (DE) courses between undergraduate business students and business faculty at the University of Guam (UOG). The study was timely, given the infancy planning stage of online education delivery at UOG. Preferences among business student respondents, based on generation groups, ethnicity and occupation status, were reviewed. The following research questions were posed to guide this study: (1) At what stage of the undergraduate program do undergraduate business students recognize the importance of using the Internet for online education use?; (2) What factors explain the rate of adoption towards Internet use by undergraduate business education students and business faculty at UOG?; and (3) Are there significant differences between undergraduate business education students and UOG business faculty in the perceived state of readiness of adoption of online distance education? Overall, business students expressed willingness to pursue this delivery format.