Who is afraid of university internet courses?

With the rapid development and implementation of e-learning and Internet-based university courses throughout the academic world, a major question as to the effectiveness and efficiency of the ICT-based courses has arisen. In order to promote effectiveness and efficiency, the Bar-Ilan University School of Education introduced a mandatory Internet-based 'Introduction to Statistics' course for all first-year students. In contrast, the Bar-Ilan University School of Social Work provided all first year social work students with a traditional lecture-based 'Introduction to Statistics' course. The major aim of the present study was to compare the expectations of the education and social work students from their differentially organized 'Introduction to Statistics' courses and to assess their satisfaction after attending one semester in each course. Initial results indicated that the education students had lower expectations from the Internet-based course in comparison to the expectations of the social work students participating in the traditional lecture-based course, mainly because of anxieties and doubts regarding their ability to cope with the Internet-based course. However, as time passed and Internet-based course students gained experience in e-learning, their self-confidence increased and their anxieties and doubts about their ability to cope with the Internet-based course decreased. In addition, in the post-test examination, Internet-based course students' level of satisfaction was similar to that of students who participated in the traditional lecture-based course. Secondary findings indicate that the Internet-based course is more highly cost-effective than the lecture-based course.