Since lifelong learning in society is getting more important recently, the number of adult learners who continue learning after their formal studies is getting increased. Web-based Learning is a useful way to realize the lifelong learning, and cyber ...
Since lifelong learning in society is getting more important recently, the number of adult learners who continue learning after their formal studies is getting increased. Web-based Learning is a useful way to realize the lifelong learning, and cyber universities via Web-based technology provide more convenient and efficient learning methods for them. However, it was pointed that the learners drop out of the courses, or do not get results as much as they expect in cyber universities. Some researchers have endeavored to find out the reasons from the incongruity between Web-based Learning environments and learner's characteristics.
Adult learners, when they learn in Web-based Learning environments, have to perform more independent and autonomous learning than in traditional education environments. By doing so, not only they do recognize the responsibility of their learning, but also they get the successful outcomes in Web-based Learning. Therefore, the readiness of adult learners to perform the self-directed learning becomes a critical factor deriving of success in Web-based Learning.
In this context, the purpose of this study was to identify the relations between individual characteristics and achievement being focused on learner's self-direction. The research questions posed by this study were:
1. Do personality types(extraversion-introversion, sensing-intuition, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving) predict learner's self-direction in cyber university?
2. Do learner's personality types and self-direction predict achievement in cyber university?
3. Do the attitudes and self-efficacy toward technology utilizing for web-based learning act as intermediary variables between self-direction and achievement in cyber university?
In order to identify the relations among the variables, survey instruments were developed, tested for validity and reliability, and distributed to adult learners in A cyber university. Subjects were given the MBTI(Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) for personality types and the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale(SDLRS) to determine their level of self-direction. Also, they were given the Attitudes Scale and Self-Efficacy Scale toward technology to determine the positive/negative disposition, and confidence with technology utilizing for web-based learning. The 109 cases without missing data were used for the analysis of the relations among variables. Analysis of Variances(ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis were adopted to test research questions.
As results of this study, it is proved that the educational background and extraversion-introversion were significant predictors of self-direction. Also results show that gender, self-direction, and self-efficacy toward technology were significant predictors of achievement in web-based learning. However, the attitude and self-efficacy toward technology did not act as intermediary variables between self-direction and achievement in web-based learning.
These findings support the notion that learners who have higher level of educational background, and are more extravert tend to be more self-directed. Also learners who are female, more self-directed, and more confident with technology utilized in Web-based Learning tend to get higher grade in cyber university. The result of this study contributes to the identification of learner characteristics that may predict success in Web-based Learning.
Based on this results, the study suggests the followings:
First, it needs further studies including factors such as teaching methods and teacher characteristics as well as learner characteristics to identify predictors of achievement in web-based learning. Second, it requires further studies regarding various aspects such as satisfaction and participation in learning to verify successful learning in cyber university. Third, it requires to examine other variables that bring intermediation effects between self-direction and achievement in web-based learning.