An Assessment of Online Learning Competency among Students of Higher Vocational and Technical School in China

Abstract

Online learning has become a useful tool in education with the advancement of technology in higher learning institutes. It has gradually become a required ability for students in higher learning institutions to participate in online lessons where teaching and learning takes place virtually, following crucial changes in the current context with 21st century skill-set requirements within the educational sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the online learning competency among students at Henan Vocational College Institute of Art; to analyze if the factor of differences in gender and different majors of students’ present differences in online learning competency. The questionnaire used for data collection is done with reference to the Likert scale with 19 items (4 of which are the demographic items, and 15 of which are the constructs of knowledge, skill, and attitude of competency), with anchor ranges from 1 to 5 in each item to probe for the 409 students' knowledge, skill and attitude regarding online learning competency. By using SPSS, students’ online learning competency was analyzed with respect to the three mentioned aspects. The study found that students have high knowledge of online competency but only an intermediate level of skill and an intermediate level of attitude towards online learning. This study also found that there are no significant differences in gender and there are no significant differences between students' online learning competency in the aspects of students' majors. The study shows that higher learning institutions adopt online learning as a way to deliver learning content, it will not pose a challenge to students in terms of the knowledge and skill requirements to participate in online learning, and that it will be fair to the students as they have high knowledge, intermediate skills and intermediate attitude towards online learning. The implications of this study and direction for future studies are discussed.