The Attitudes of Saudi Students toward E-Learning at Midwest University in USA

Abstract

International students‟ attitudes toward online learning need to be explored in order to understand the impact of the transition from less virtualized education environments to highly extensive ones. The current study aims at an in-depth investigation of the situation of Saudi international students studying at Northern Illinois University. To know the factors that have an effect on such students‟ academic adaptation, a qualitative approach was implemented and qualitative data were collected by means of structured interviews. The study sample consisted of five Saudi Arabian international postsecondary students at an American institution. Results were discussed in terms of Roger‟s theory of adoption. Both descriptive and analytical analyses were conducted directly after the collection of the data. The findings of the study revealed that Saudi international students have difficulty struggling through the educational system of the host countries. The main challenge for Saudi international students is the fact that online learning is a new experience for them. Learning in an online environment is sudden experience, which can be hurting and dangerous if not addressed carefully and prepared for before hand. In fact the experience can impact student motivation and consequently grades and scores as well as retention and completion rates.