Özet:

Significance of online learning is widely recognized as a means to enhance accessibility and quality of teaching-learning process in the world.  In Ghana, there is a trend to broaden the use of online learning through the distance education programme. However, issues of student readiness for online learning at the distance education mode has been left unattended to. Therefore, the current paper has its objective to explore readiness of distance education students for online learning. Descriptive research design was employed for the study. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select three regions in Ghana and six study centers from the regions out of which 306 first year students enrolled in distance education programme in the University of Cape Coast participated in the study. A five-point Likert type of questionnaire was used for the data collection. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics specifically mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics thus independent sample t-test and standard multiple linear regression. Findings from the study suggest that distance education students had a positive attitude towards online learning. Further, it was also revealed that students possessed good self-regulated learning, collaborative and information communication and technology skills relevant for online learning through the distance education mode. Management of Universities running distance education specifically the university of Cape Coast, College of Distance Education (CoDE) should direct their focus to the formulation of appropriate and operational distance education policies to guide the college towards successful implementation of online learning since their target audience (students) have positive attitude toward online learning.

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