Distance online learning has been regarded as a useful learning method, especially when
we faced the big flood crisis in Thailand.
To solve the lack of classrooms, our university
administrators decided to implement WebEx system as an alternative to continue
teaching.
And, there were some relevant aspects that we needed to consider.
Therefore, this study investigated students’ attitude
toward WebEx system.
It aimed
to examine students’ attitudes toward using WebEx for an online English
class, compare students’ attitudes toward WebEx system with their background and
investigate the relationship between students’ computer aptitude
and t
heir attitudes
towards WebEx system. The samples were 211
undergraduate students enrolled in
Fundamental English course
. The instrument in this study was a questionnaire.
Results
indicated
that the levels of computer aptitude and attitudes towards WebEx sy
stem in
general were moderate. There were no statistically significant differences at .05 level
found in students’ attitudes toward WebEx system as classified by gender, computer
ownership, and monthly allowance.
As hypothesised,
there was a positive rel
ationship between students’
computer aptitude
and their attitudes toward
WebEx at .01 levels. Students with high computer aptitude
were found to have more positive attitudes toward WebEx system than those with low
computer aptitude. The research was done d
uring the flood crisis.
Thus, it is interesting to find out whether an English online class through WebEx system
will be more accepted by users in the future, especially in a normal circumstance after
the flood crisis. Nevertheless, the results of this s
tudy will give some ideas to institutions
that plan to use online learning technologies.