Studying the Role of Students' Academic Motivation and Computer Skills in Their Attitudes toward Blended Learning Approach

Subject Areas : Education

A.K عجم ¹ (دانشجوی دکتری برنامه ریزی درسی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد)
H. جعفری ثانی ² (استادیار دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روانشناسی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد)
B. مهرام ³ (دانشیار دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روانشناسی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد)
M. آهنچیان ⁴ (دانشیار دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روانشناسی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد)

Received: 2014-02-02 Accepted : 2014-02-02 Published : 2013-11-22

Keywords: Blended learning, Computer skills, Academic Motivation, Students, Payame-Noor University,

Abstract :

When new technologies develop, new approaches to learning and teaching will grow. As a new approach to learning, blended learning that combines online learning with traditional face-to-face learning was established in order to remove the limitations of an entirely virtual learning or a totally traditional learning. To apply this new approach, it is essential to study students' capabilities and their attitudes toward it. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of academic motivation and computer skills on their views about blended learning. This descriptive-comparative study included all students in Mashhad Payame-Noor University. Out of this population, 382 students were selected randomly as the study sample. Research instruments were Welrand et. al.'s academic motivation questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire of students' computer skills and students’ attitudes toward blended learning. The results suggested that they had a positive attitude toward blended learning and that it was not significantly affected by their gender. The external motivation of female students was higher than that of male ones. The students' computer skills, external and internal motivations were appropriate predictors of their attitudes toward blended learning.