Chinese Students’ ICT Readiness for a Blended Teaching and Learning Environment

Abstract

Information Communications Technology (ICT) plays an important role in enhancing Chinese students’ learning efficiency and preparation for successful participation in a Western learning and teaching community. In the past, Chinese students’ ICT preparedness for Western higher-education has not been emphasized in Chinese domestic K-12. Consequently, this lack of skills might be the cause tension between students and university academics in a blended learning and teaching environment. This pilot study used the Survey of Higher Education [15] to investigate 120 Chinese students between 16-18 years old who are commencing study in Australia and compared their responses with the expectations of 356 Australian academics. The results show that both Chinese students and Australian academics regard ‘Data Retrieval and Data Management’ skills as the most important skillsets. But gaps were discovered between commencing Chinese students and Australian academics in a number of communication and digital interactive skillsets used in a blended learning environment.