The Impact of Internet Experience and Attitude on Student Preference for Blended Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate student experience with the Internet, and their attitudes towards using it, in
an attempt to determine the impact of these experiences and attitudes on their view of the implementation of blended
learning. Data from 142 Saudi students at a leading university in Saudi Arabia were collected via an online
questionnaire. The results reveal that students have both experience with and positive attitudes towards using the
Internet. Demographic variables had no effect on these attitudes, but experience variables showed significant effects.
Interestingly, there were mixed interactions regarding student study year; negatively with Internet experience and
positively with preference for the implementation of blended learning. Neither experience with the Internet nor
program of study appeared to influence student preference for blended learning but age, study year, and attitudes
towards the Internet were associated with positive attitudes towards blended learning. Importantly, students in the
present study supported the implementation of blended learning, but not entirely online learning. Student attitudes
towards the Internet in general appeared to influence their attitude to learning approaches that use the Internet in
blended learning environments. Discussion of these results is presented with suggested implications.