Barriers facing the uptake of E-learning among the Bachelor of Education (Arts) students: The case of external Degree programme of the University of Nairobi

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate e-Learning barriers among the, Bachelor of Education (Arts) students of the External Degree Programme of the University of Nairobi. To successfully achieve the objectives of this study, the researcher explored the following areas: e- Learning access barriers, situational barriers and information literacy barriers. The research design used was survey. A sample population of 217 students was determined from a population of 500 students.

A single set of questionnaire and an interview schedule were used as research instruments. A total of 115 questionnaires were completed and returned. This represented 52.9% response rate. To analyse data, frequencies, tables, total scores, mean and percentages were used and the following were the major findings: Majority of the respondents agreed that the following were e-Leaming barriers: Over commitment with family responsibilities to study online, isolation from tutors when studying online, existence of gap between online content and the expectations of the students, much interruption at work at the expense of e-Leaming, lack of confidence, lack of prerequisite computer knowledge, insufficient support from lecturers, lack of time to study online. lack of computer training, presence of physical health barriers such as lameness.

eye strain and many others, lack of technical expertise with computer technology. lack of access to computer labs of the University of Nairobi because of inadequacy of these labs, high cost of computer hardware and internet access at a cyber cafe. From this research findings, it was recommended that computer courses be compulsory to all students joining the University for higher education and as well e-Learning methodologies be investigated in higher institutions- of leaming.