Computer skills and prior experience with e-learning courses as factors that affect development of intellectual thinking dispositions in online learning

This chapter examines the effect of three preliminary factors among students who participate in online courses: previous knowledge and experience with computers, Internet skills, and accumulated experience from previous participation in online courses, on improvement of thought tendencies according to Perkins', Jays', and Tishmans' tendency theory (1993, 1995). The study includes 285 bachelor and masters students from Bar Ilan University, who participated in asynchronic and synchronic courses broadcasted in the Fully Web system. The results of the study show that two out of the three examined variables presented statistical significance. The study shows that personal knowledge and previous computer experience and Internet skills affect most thought tendencies in various positive degrees. Nonetheless, the variable that relates to previous experience in online courses was not found to affect thought tendencies. The study's conclusion shows that personal knowledge and previous computer experience and Internet skills contribute to the improvement of thinking tendencies, which include intellectual thinking patterns and are significant factors for the students' success in a computerized environment.