Web-based learning : an empirical analysis

Web-Based Learning (WBL) and training have become popular among academic institutions and companies. It has led to a widespread debate over whether technology-based learning alone will be a sufficient approach in the future or whether technology will simply complement traditional methods of learning. This debate has led to several studies on the application and effectiveness of WBL and its pros and cons with regard to effectiveness in teaching and learning. An empirical analysis was conducted with the help of data collected using a standard questionnaire from students in Hong Kong universities. The objective of this research was to investigate the extent to which WBL is popular and effective in Hong Kong. The results of the literature survey and empirical analysis helped to identify the barriers to and critical success factors in the successful application of WBL, and to develop a generic framework for WBL that could be useful in other environments. A summary of findings and conclusions are presented.