Readiness for Online Learning in Higher Education: A Mixed Methods Assessment of Students at a Nigerian University

As Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) increase in prevalence, this paper addresses an important phenomenon: the readiness of Nigerian university students for online learning. The Internet has become an important tool in education delivery because it holds great promise for increased access to higher education, as well as a means of promoting learning in general. Readiness for online learning, however, is determined by access to the Internet, functional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills and appropriate independent learning skills that influence meaningful learning in any self-directed, self-regulating learning environment. The research results from the students that were surveyed showed positive online learning characteristics – functional, dispositional, and situational - that should determine readiness for online learning. There is evidence that students have appropriate independent learning skills that could be transferred to an online learning environment. Additionally, students believe they have both independent learning and ICT skills that are appropriate for online learning, therefore indicating a high level of readiness for online learning among students in Nigeria.