The Experience of New Wbi-Adopters in Hong Kong

Abstract

The innovative use of information and communication technology is becoming increasingly popular among higher education institutions in Hong Kong. The motivation for adoption is expedited by great promotive efforts within the academic communities that accompany the current high level of financial, hardware, and software resources deployed in all education sectors. Web-based course management tools are also available campus-wide. Novice Web-adopters are likely to rely on these tools to develop on-line instruction because of the relative ease to get started. Since not much is known about local Web users, this study aims to explore how university instructors in Hong Kong adapt to this new mode of instruction and make use of the Web-based learning tools in teaching. Seventeen instructors from a university in Hong Kong who are novice Web-adopters were interviewed. Their perceptions toward Web-based instruction, reasons of adoption, degree to which their expectations were met at the end of the semester, and their evaluations of the Web-based course delivery system were examined. Some instructors tended to look at technology and innovation from a “performance enhancement” perspective. However, the present findings suggested that it is also necessary to be aware of the potential limitations resulting from using technology to implement learning activities. Finally, the support needs for instructors are discussed based on the research findings.