Abstract:

Universities offer more and more courses online for many reasons such as flexibility, financial and academic reasons. This research investigates the relationship between Web-based learning and Higher-Order Thinking Skills while taking into account the influence of some of the personality traits of students. Several hundred students registered in an undergraduate web-based course on the fundamentals of Information Technology at a university in Montreal, Canada took part in the study. Through a survey, based on the Big 5 instrument, three types of personality were considered, namely the extraverted, the agreeable and the conscientious. The students’ perceptions of the impact of different pedagogical tools on the acquisition of various higher-order learning skills into this entirely online course as it relates to their personality traits are the focus of this research. It was found that extraverted students perceive more support from activities and resources towards learning skills than the other types of students. Certain activities and resources are perceived to contribute differently according to the identified personality traits. This research could help identify different learning tools to better serve an online community of learners.

Keywords:

Web-based learning, Higher-order thinking skills, higher education.