Online delivery of either part or whole course materials is no longer something that only the technology buff dabbles in. Many universities are convinced of the benefits such an innovation would bring and they are willing to invest large amounts of resources to facilitate the process. The main argument used in favour of computer based media for instruction is that they facilitate student learning better than the traditional methods or that they supplement the traditional methods. The situation in Australia may be similar to that in the United States. One such issue is the need for higher education to be inclusive i.e. teaching should cater to all students and not just the 'privileged'.
Australian universities espouse to the principles of equity in education.
In a pilot study at the University of Adelaide, student backgrounds relating to computer use, knowledge and skills as well as some factors that may influence student perceptions of their ability were investigated. Student perceptions of their ability may be an indicator of their real ability, so it can be used to identify groups of students who may require special help before implementation of computer based teaching. The outcomes of this study could be useful to the University of Adelaide and to high schools preparing students for university entry. Similar outcomes could be expected in other Australian universities. Method First year students taking courses offered by the Faculty of Science were invited to complete a questionnaire at the time of course registration.