Copyright (c) 2021 Bakht Jamal, Rabia Kishwer, Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Muhammad Hamid Nawaz Khan, Masood Ahmad
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ASSESSING THE AVAILABILITY AND USAGE OF ONLINE RESOURCES AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN
Corresponding Author(s) : Bakht Jamal
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2021): January
Abstract
Purpose of the study: This study aims to shed light on how university students' access to resources, use, and diversity of online resources influence their academic performance and overall learning outcomes across different academic disciplines and institutions.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey approach was used in this quantitative study. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 450 students from different departments of public and private sector universities in Lahore. A standardized close-ended questionnaire that was electronically delivered was used to collect data. Inferential statistics like chi-square tests or correlation analysis were used to determine statistically significant correlations between the variables.
Principal Findings: Results show that university students from various academic areas and institution types have easy access to online resources. The popular categories of online resources were e-books and instructional videos. Several factors influence them, including usability, relevance to coursework, comfort with the platform, and recommendations from teachers and peers. The study shows a favorable association between students' perceived impact of using online resources and their academic achievement (GPA) and learning outcomes (exam scores).
Applications of the study: Universities, teachers, politicians, and educational technology creators are just a few of the educational stakeholders. This research has significant ramifications or applications in the academic sector. Universities can better adjust to the changing demands of modern learners by examining the patterns of online resource use among their student body. Educators can create pedagogical strategies that improve student learning.
Novelty/Originality of the study: The study results can help create pedagogical strategies that include technological inclusions to advance student learning. To close the digital divide between students from different backgrounds/ individual differences and enable fair access to online resources, policymakers may learn more about the digital infrastructure needed in Pakistan.
Keywords
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- Aduwa-Ogiegbaen, S. E., & Iyamu, E. O. S. (2005). Using information and communication technology in secondary schools in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 8(1), 104- 112.
- Ali, W. (2020). Online and remote learning in higher education institutes: A necessity in light of COVID-19 pandemic. Higher education studies, 10(3), 16-25. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n3p16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n3p16
- Anderson, J., Smith, A., & Johnson, L. (2020). E-books in higher education: A comprehensive survey of university students' preferences and usage. Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3), 145-159.
- Bagarukayo, E., & Kalema, B. (2015). Evaluation of e-learning usage in South African universities: A critical review. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, 11(2).
- Baig, Q. A., Zaidi, S. J. A., & Alam, B. F. (2019). Perceptions of dental faculty and students of E-learning and its application in a public sector Dental College in Karachi, Pakistan. JPMA, 69(9), 1320-1325.
- Bashorun, M. T., Isah, A., & Adisa, M. Y. (2011). User perception of electronic resources in the University of Ilorin, Nigeria (UNILORIN).
- Bawden, D., & Robinson, L. (2009). The dark side of information: Overload, anxiety, and other paradoxes and pathologies. Journal of Information Science, 35(2), 180-191. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551508095781 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551508095781
- Brown, R., & Williams, M. (2018). Impact of online resource utilization on academic performance: A longitudinal study of undergraduate students. Computers in Education, 42(2), 75-89.
- Cacheiro-Gonzalez, M. L., Medina-Rivilla, A., Dominguez-Garrido, M. C., & Medina-Dominguez, M. (2019). The learning platform in distance higher education: Student’s perceptions. Turkish Online Journal of Distance, Education, 20(1), 71-95. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.522387 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.522387
- Chen, H., & Liu, S. (2019). Disciplinary variations in online resource use among university students. Journal of Information Science, 36(4), 210-224.
- Chen, J., Liu, W., & Wang, S. (2019). Online resource preference among university students of different age groups. Journal of Educational Technology Research, 26(4), 210-225.
- Duta, N., & Martinez-Rivera, O. (2015). Between theory and practice: the importance of ICT in Higher Education as a tool for collaborative learning. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 1466-1473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.294 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.294
- Garcia, E., & Martinez, R. (2021). Online resource integration in blended learning environments: A case study of student engagement and satisfaction. Journal of Blended Learning, 18(1), 45-57.
- Garcia, E., Gonzalez, P., & Martinez, R. (2021). Exploring the potential of MOOCs in higher education: A case study of student engagement and satisfaction. International Journal of Online Education, 18(1), 45-57.
- Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Basic Books.
- Henderson, M., Finger, G., & Selwyn, N. (2016). What’s used and what’s useful? Exploring digital technology use (s) among taught postgraduate students. Active learning in higher education, 17(3), 235-247. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787416654798 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787416654798
- Jadoon, N. A., Zahid, M. F., Mansoorulhaq, H., Ullah, S., Jadoon, B. A., Raza, A., ... & Shahzad, M. A. (2011). Evaluation of Internet access and utilization by medical students in Lahore, Pakistan. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 11(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-11-37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-11-37
- Johnson, K., Lee, M., & Chen, S. (2021). Frequency of online resource use among university students: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Academic Libraries, 33(4), 220-234.
- Johnson, T., Lee, H., & Smith, R. (2020). Digital divide and access to online resources among university students. Journal of Information Access, 12(3), 145-159.
- Lee, H., & Chen, C. (2019). Factors influencing university students' selection of online resources. Journal of Educational Technology Research, 28(2), 89-104.
- Liu, S., Chen, H., & Davis, P. (2019). Information literacy and online resource preference: An exploratory study among university students. Journal of Information Literacy, 35(2), 75-89.
- Metzger, M. J., Flanagin, A. J., & Zwarun, L. (2003). College student Web use, perceptions of information credibility, and verification behavior. Computers & Education, 41(3), 271-290. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1315(03)00049-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1315(03)00049-6
- Miranda, J., Navarrete, C., Noguez, J., Molina-Espinosa, J. M., Ramírez-Montoya, M. S., Navarro-Tuch, S. A., & Molina, A. (2021). The core components of education 4.0 in higher education: Three case studies in engineering education. Computers & Electrical Engineering, 93, 107278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compeleceng.2021.107278 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compeleceng.2021.107278
- Mishra, L., Gupta, T., & Shree, A. (2020). Online teaching-learning in higher education during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. International journal of educational research open, 1, 100012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100012
- Mollel, M. M., & Mwantimwa, K. (2019). Users' Acceptance of E-Resources Usage at the Institute of Finance Management, Tanzania. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, 15(4), 5-21.
- Natarajan, K., Suresh, B., Sivaraman, P., & Sevukan, R. (2010). Use and user perception of electronic resources in Annamalai University: A case study.
- Nseobot, I. R., Soomro, M. A., & James, G. D. (2021). An Assessment of Availability and Utilization of Internet Resources for Final Year Students Research Project in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions. International Journal of Organizational Business Excellence, 4(2), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.21512/ijobex.v2i2.7134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21512/ijobex.v2i2.7134
- Oyeniyi, J., Oyeniran, O., Omotosho, L., Adebayo, O., & Oyeniran, S. (2020). Evaluation of the availability, accessibility, and usage of electronic resources in the University Libraries. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences and Advanced Technology, 1(2), 138-149.
- Ranasinghe, P., Wickramasinghe, S. A., Pieris, W. A., Karunathilake, I., & Constantine, G. R. (2012). Computer literacy among first-year medical students in a developing country: A cross-sectional study. BMC research notes, 5(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-504 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-504
- Rao, V. (2019). Blended Learning: A New Hybrid Teaching Methodology. Online Submission, 3(13).
- Ratcliff, A., Swartz, B., & Ivanitskaya, L. (2013). Information literacy skills in speech-language pathology students: Skill differences across academic levels. Contemporary Issues in Communication Science and Disorders, 40(Spring), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.1044/cicsd_40_S_31 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1044/cicsd_40_S_31
- Richardson, D., & Davis, P. (2020). Enhancing learning outcomes through multimedia resources: A meta-analysis of experimental studies. Computers & Education, 38(3), 175-189.
- Saykili, A. (2019). Higher education in the digital age: The impact of digital connective technologies. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 2(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.516971 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.516971
- Shams, S., Haq, M. A. U., & Waqar, Y. (2020). Open educational resources (OER) usage trends among university students of Pakistan. Education and Information Technologies, 25(6), 5637-5654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10195-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10195-3
- Smith, A., & Brown, R. (2021). Online resource use and information literacy skills among university students. Journal of Educational Technology, 38(3), 175-189.
- Smith, R., & Johnson, T. (2018). Digital libraries and online databases: Assessing university students' access and usage. Library & Information Science, 12(1), 56-68.
- Somaratna, S. D. (2015). A credit-based information literacy course module for science undergraduates: an assessment. Annals of Library and Information Studies (ALIS), 62(1), 19-26.
- Szymkowiak, A., Melovic, B., Dabic, M., Jeganathan, K., & Kundi, G. S. (2021). Information technology and Gen Z: The role of teachers, the Internet, and technology in the education of young people. Technology in Society, 65, 101565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101565 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101565
- Thompson, L. (2019). Digitization efforts in academic libraries: A comparative study of different university settings. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 21(2), 98-115.
- Ugwunwa, E. S. S. E., & FAGBOHUN, M. (2015). Assessing E-learning tools in an academic environment: A study of availability and use among undergraduate students in a Nigerian university. International Journal of Progressive Education, 11(2), 76-87.
- Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
- Wang, J., Liu, Q., & Chen, X. (2020). Factors influencing university students' selection of online resources: A case study of STEM disciplines. Journal of Academic Libraries, 27(3), 185-201.
- Woessmann, L., & Fuchs, T. (2004). Computers and student learning: Bivariate and multivariate evidence on the availability and use of computers at home and at school. Available at SSRN 619101. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.619101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.619101
References
Aduwa-Ogiegbaen, S. E., & Iyamu, E. O. S. (2005). Using information and communication technology in secondary schools in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 8(1), 104- 112.
Ali, W. (2020). Online and remote learning in higher education institutes: A necessity in light of COVID-19 pandemic. Higher education studies, 10(3), 16-25. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n3p16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v10n3p16
Anderson, J., Smith, A., & Johnson, L. (2020). E-books in higher education: A comprehensive survey of university students' preferences and usage. Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3), 145-159.
Bagarukayo, E., & Kalema, B. (2015). Evaluation of e-learning usage in South African universities: A critical review. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, 11(2).
Baig, Q. A., Zaidi, S. J. A., & Alam, B. F. (2019). Perceptions of dental faculty and students of E-learning and its application in a public sector Dental College in Karachi, Pakistan. JPMA, 69(9), 1320-1325.
Bashorun, M. T., Isah, A., & Adisa, M. Y. (2011). User perception of electronic resources in the University of Ilorin, Nigeria (UNILORIN).
Bawden, D., & Robinson, L. (2009). The dark side of information: Overload, anxiety, and other paradoxes and pathologies. Journal of Information Science, 35(2), 180-191. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551508095781 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551508095781
Brown, R., & Williams, M. (2018). Impact of online resource utilization on academic performance: A longitudinal study of undergraduate students. Computers in Education, 42(2), 75-89.
Cacheiro-Gonzalez, M. L., Medina-Rivilla, A., Dominguez-Garrido, M. C., & Medina-Dominguez, M. (2019). The learning platform in distance higher education: Student’s perceptions. Turkish Online Journal of Distance, Education, 20(1), 71-95. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.522387 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.522387
Chen, H., & Liu, S. (2019). Disciplinary variations in online resource use among university students. Journal of Information Science, 36(4), 210-224.
Chen, J., Liu, W., & Wang, S. (2019). Online resource preference among university students of different age groups. Journal of Educational Technology Research, 26(4), 210-225.
Duta, N., & Martinez-Rivera, O. (2015). Between theory and practice: the importance of ICT in Higher Education as a tool for collaborative learning. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 1466-1473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.294 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.294
Garcia, E., & Martinez, R. (2021). Online resource integration in blended learning environments: A case study of student engagement and satisfaction. Journal of Blended Learning, 18(1), 45-57.
Garcia, E., Gonzalez, P., & Martinez, R. (2021). Exploring the potential of MOOCs in higher education: A case study of student engagement and satisfaction. International Journal of Online Education, 18(1), 45-57.
Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Basic Books.
Henderson, M., Finger, G., & Selwyn, N. (2016). What’s used and what’s useful? Exploring digital technology use (s) among taught postgraduate students. Active learning in higher education, 17(3), 235-247. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787416654798 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787416654798
Jadoon, N. A., Zahid, M. F., Mansoorulhaq, H., Ullah, S., Jadoon, B. A., Raza, A., ... & Shahzad, M. A. (2011). Evaluation of Internet access and utilization by medical students in Lahore, Pakistan. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 11(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-11-37 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6947-11-37
Johnson, K., Lee, M., & Chen, S. (2021). Frequency of online resource use among university students: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Academic Libraries, 33(4), 220-234.
Johnson, T., Lee, H., & Smith, R. (2020). Digital divide and access to online resources among university students. Journal of Information Access, 12(3), 145-159.
Lee, H., & Chen, C. (2019). Factors influencing university students' selection of online resources. Journal of Educational Technology Research, 28(2), 89-104.
Liu, S., Chen, H., & Davis, P. (2019). Information literacy and online resource preference: An exploratory study among university students. Journal of Information Literacy, 35(2), 75-89.
Metzger, M. J., Flanagin, A. J., & Zwarun, L. (2003). College student Web use, perceptions of information credibility, and verification behavior. Computers & Education, 41(3), 271-290. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1315(03)00049-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1315(03)00049-6
Miranda, J., Navarrete, C., Noguez, J., Molina-Espinosa, J. M., Ramírez-Montoya, M. S., Navarro-Tuch, S. A., & Molina, A. (2021). The core components of education 4.0 in higher education: Three case studies in engineering education. Computers & Electrical Engineering, 93, 107278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compeleceng.2021.107278 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compeleceng.2021.107278
Mishra, L., Gupta, T., & Shree, A. (2020). Online teaching-learning in higher education during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. International journal of educational research open, 1, 100012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100012
Mollel, M. M., & Mwantimwa, K. (2019). Users' Acceptance of E-Resources Usage at the Institute of Finance Management, Tanzania. International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, 15(4), 5-21.
Natarajan, K., Suresh, B., Sivaraman, P., & Sevukan, R. (2010). Use and user perception of electronic resources in Annamalai University: A case study.
Nseobot, I. R., Soomro, M. A., & James, G. D. (2021). An Assessment of Availability and Utilization of Internet Resources for Final Year Students Research Project in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions. International Journal of Organizational Business Excellence, 4(2), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.21512/ijobex.v2i2.7134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21512/ijobex.v2i2.7134
Oyeniyi, J., Oyeniran, O., Omotosho, L., Adebayo, O., & Oyeniran, S. (2020). Evaluation of the availability, accessibility, and usage of electronic resources in the University Libraries. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences and Advanced Technology, 1(2), 138-149.
Ranasinghe, P., Wickramasinghe, S. A., Pieris, W. A., Karunathilake, I., & Constantine, G. R. (2012). Computer literacy among first-year medical students in a developing country: A cross-sectional study. BMC research notes, 5(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-504 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-5-504
Rao, V. (2019). Blended Learning: A New Hybrid Teaching Methodology. Online Submission, 3(13).
Ratcliff, A., Swartz, B., & Ivanitskaya, L. (2013). Information literacy skills in speech-language pathology students: Skill differences across academic levels. Contemporary Issues in Communication Science and Disorders, 40(Spring), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.1044/cicsd_40_S_31 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1044/cicsd_40_S_31
Richardson, D., & Davis, P. (2020). Enhancing learning outcomes through multimedia resources: A meta-analysis of experimental studies. Computers & Education, 38(3), 175-189.
Saykili, A. (2019). Higher education in the digital age: The impact of digital connective technologies. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 2(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.516971 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.516971
Shams, S., Haq, M. A. U., & Waqar, Y. (2020). Open educational resources (OER) usage trends among university students of Pakistan. Education and Information Technologies, 25(6), 5637-5654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10195-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10195-3
Smith, A., & Brown, R. (2021). Online resource use and information literacy skills among university students. Journal of Educational Technology, 38(3), 175-189.
Smith, R., & Johnson, T. (2018). Digital libraries and online databases: Assessing university students' access and usage. Library & Information Science, 12(1), 56-68.
Somaratna, S. D. (2015). A credit-based information literacy course module for science undergraduates: an assessment. Annals of Library and Information Studies (ALIS), 62(1), 19-26.
Szymkowiak, A., Melovic, B., Dabic, M., Jeganathan, K., & Kundi, G. S. (2021). Information technology and Gen Z: The role of teachers, the Internet, and technology in the education of young people. Technology in Society, 65, 101565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101565 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101565
Thompson, L. (2019). Digitization efforts in academic libraries: A comparative study of different university settings. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 21(2), 98-115.
Ugwunwa, E. S. S. E., & FAGBOHUN, M. (2015). Assessing E-learning tools in an academic environment: A study of availability and use among undergraduate students in a Nigerian university. International Journal of Progressive Education, 11(2), 76-87.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Wang, J., Liu, Q., & Chen, X. (2020). Factors influencing university students' selection of online resources: A case study of STEM disciplines. Journal of Academic Libraries, 27(3), 185-201.
Woessmann, L., & Fuchs, T. (2004). Computers and student learning: Bivariate and multivariate evidence on the availability and use of computers at home and at school. Available at SSRN 619101. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.619101 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.619101