BLENDED LEARNING READINESS AND ITS WAY FORWARD: THE CASE OF UNDERGRADUATES OF UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

Abstract

Most students at higher education institutions (HEIs) are currently Generation-Z, and they are exact synonyms with information and communication technology. Therefore, HEIs should adopt a modern way of delivering knowledge to the students, such as blended learning. Blended learning is a combination of face-to-face and online learning methods in the teaching and learning process. The objective of this study is to determine the readiness of undergraduates in public universities towards blended learning. Data was collected from 283 undergraduate students from Universiti Utara Malaysia using a questionnaire and was analysed descriptively. The result shows that almost 75% of the students are aware of the blended learning method, and nearly 70% of the students have participated in the blended learning. Overall, the students have a high readiness to embark on the blended learning approach, but with some improvements needed. The study provides insights into understanding the current state of students’ preparedness towards blended learning and how the university should take appropriate actions to overcome the limitations faced by the students so that the benefits of blended learning can be optimised.