Abstract
The Internet holds the greatest promise for learning and universal access to quality education. The use of the Internet for education is now widely acknowledged. This study examined through an ex-post facto design the relationship between use of the Internet and perceived academic performance among
undergraduate students at the University of Botswana. Three hundred and six undergraduate students from thirteen systematically selected departments formed the study sample. A modified Internet Use scale was used to gather data. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple
correlation, chi-square and Friedman test. The results indicate that: significant relationship exists between Internet use and perceived academic performance among undergraduate students at the University of Botswana.Most respondents use the Internet for the purpose of obtaining course related information.However, variation exists in the use of the Internet to obtain course related information
with participants from Education and Humanities using the Internet for this purpose more than students from other disciplines such as social sciences, science, business, engineering,etc. Self-efficacy and prior computer experience were found to significantly correlate with Internet access and use. Various problems encountered by respondents when using the Internet include: inadequate access to the Internet during school session, slow Internet access, lack of access to computers on campus
during holidays, and lack of knowledge to use the Internet and computers. Keywords Internet, Internet access, Botswana, Prior computer experience, computer self efficacy,
academic performance, academic achievement, Undergraduate students
Original Article
P. 69-83