Utilization of Web 2.0 Applications Among Geography Students at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between usefulness, ease of use and acceptance attitude variables and the utilization of Web 2.0 applications among the geography students of the semester six and seven session of 2019/2020 in Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia. A quantitative approach using a questionnaire was applied in this study. The study samples consisted of 123 geography students (42 from semester six and 81 students from semester seven). Sample selection was done using simple random sampling. A descriptive analysis (frequency, percent, mean and standard deviation) and inference analysis (Pearson's correlation) were used to answer each research question. The findings of the study showed that the usefulness (M=4.29, SD=0.49), ease of use (M=4.21, SD=.48), as well as the acceptance attitude towards Web 2.0 applications (M=4.24 and SD=.47) were at a high level, while the level of utilization of Web 2.0 applications (M=3.28 and SD=.70) was at a medium level. Results from the Pearson's correlation analysis found that there was a positive and significant relationship between Web 2.0 application usefulness (r=.361, p=.000), ease of use (r=.345, p=.000), and attitude (r=.458, p=.000). Regarding the relationship between the independent variables of the study, there were also positive and significant relationships between ease of use and usefulness (r=.697, p=.000) and between usefulness and ease of use or acceptance attitude towards Web 2.0 applications (r=.624, p=.000 and r=.640, p=.000, respectively). In conclusion, this study showed that the levels of usefulness, ease of use and acceptance attitude towards Web applications among geography students were high but that utilization was medium This indicates that the use of and exposure to Web 2.0 applications at the higher education level are still lacking in the study area. The results of the correlation analysis showed that there was a relationship between all the study variables. Thus, all variables studied should be considered when attempting to increase the utilization of Web 2.0 applications. This information can be used by the Ministry of Education Malaysia, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, and the university itself to improve the utilization of Web 2.0 applications to the highest level.