Linear and Non-Linear Navigations of Learning Content

Abstract

This paper reports a study concerning linear and non-linear navigations in WBI. The effects of the two navigations on students’ engagement aspects namely; control, focus, curiosity, and intrinsic interests were investigated. The study aimed to identify whether the linear and the non-linear navigations could be the factors that influence students’ engagement while learning in WBI environment. An exploratory experimental study was conducted on seventy-two students from a university in Malaysia using a web-based system for learning Basic Computer Networks. The study suggested that the types of navigations had affected the control aspect, but not the focus, curiosity, and intrinsic interests. Students’ engagement from the context of focus, intrinsic interests and curiosity was similar in both linear and non-linear. These findings are further discussed from cultural perspectives of Malaysian students.