Factors Affecting the Students' Intention to Use Web-Based Learning System

Introduction

Web-based learning system is a system which provides learning material to the receiver at any location and at any time as the learning instruction is delivered through the internet. Web-based learning system have been used by universities to increase students’ performance and upgrade their skills. It actually help the students to add value into themselves, and at the same time increase value to the university by using web-based learning system, in order to compete with other established universities around the world. Productivity of the students is very important for the university because it helps the university to gain competitive benefits as well as to increase the global ranking for the university. For example, when a student is on a long distance traveling, he or she may use their tablet or smartphone to access the learning system and start learning whenever they are free. Besides, it also help the students to manage their time wisely after lecture.

This is exemplified in the work undertaken by Hong, Lai, & Holton (2003), stated that 67% of the students felt that they have better interaction with the instructor after they have used web-based learning system, whilst 47% agree that they have better interaction with each other after they have used web-based learning system to study. Furthermore, web-based learning system will help students to improve their communication skills among each other and also the instructors which expand more opportunity of knowledge sharing. Hong et al. (2003) also emphasized that 21% of the students feels convenient to study with the use of web-based learning system, which allows them to have more flexible time and better location to study.

In a similar study context, Fariborzi (2009) conducted a study among Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) students and found that 57% of students prefer to download their course content with the .swf extension (Flash Player files), with 80% of them prefer to study by using web-based learning system as they feel more comfortable to study at their own places. Fariborzi also added that 49% of these students are also working while studying, which allow them to be more flexible in their studies, and confirmed that 55% of UPM students agreed that web-based learning system give an effective effect on their study. In these several statistic, we can understand that web-based learning system have bring advantage and effective effect on their study. They are able to learn effectively and gain more knowledge compared to the traditional learning process.

Universities require students to perform well in helping them to increase their result and gain more knowledge. However, traditional method is not enough to improve an individual’s self-improvement. To solve this problem, web-based leaning system is able to help students upgrade their interpersonal skills. As the university is capable in providing professional learning material, students able to receive the material easily. Web-based learning system is consisted of two types of model, synchronous and asynchronous. Learning portal can be delivered by combination of static by instruction, hyperlinked pages and screen cam tutorial. The others will be interactive methods by threaded discussions, chat and desk-top video conferencing. Most of the university prefer combination of static method to deliver, which allow the instructor to provide a standard learning material to the students, so they can receive same learning output.

Web-based learning system provide a lot of advantages to the universities and students. It help students in learning anytime they wish to and can be learn in anywhere. Universities will be able to have more training methods too. In addition, web based learning system offers various types of learning courses and able to let students to choose the course they wanted to learn. They can choose to revise what they have learnt and also make the knowledge useful to themselves. Hence, the objectives of this study is to investigate the factor affecting the decision of using web-based learning system among students by using the Technology-Acceptance Model (TAM) as the guiding principle i.e. extension of the anxiety, facilitating conditions, and social influence.