COMPARISON OF WEB 2.0 ONLINE
USAGE BY ON- CAMPUS AND DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS
Johan Hough,
University of Stellenbosch (US) and
Ernst Neuland,
University of South Africa (UNISA),
South Africa
The proliferation of Web 2.0 applications in general and in higher
education in particular was the impetus for this survey-based
research into practices that online users (students) currently
employ when using Web 2.0 sites. As part of the study, the
popularity of Web 2.0 technologies and sites among online users at
two universities was investigated to determine the extent of access
and use as well as the potential threat to users of Web 2.0. The
results of this study indicate that the use of Web 2.0 sites is very
popular among both on-campus (full-time) and distance learning
(part-time) students, but that modes of study and the site of access
differ vastly between the groups. The respondents indicated that
they regularly visit Web 2.0 sites, and that all of them (100%) post
personal information on these sites. Both types of users are acutely
aware of the risks associated with the technology and posting of
information on these sites, and are alert regarding the possibility
of Internet theft and phishing attacks. Given the distinctive
characteristics of the two groups of students, major differences
were observed between the full-time and part-time users in terms of
mode of study, influence on studies, and their ranking of potential
risks, all of which pose unique academic challenges for both
students and educators.
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