Abstract:
Notwithstanding the benefits that information and communications technology (ICT) offers to
learning processes, the majority of learners in rural and township areas in South Africa either
do not have access to computers and the internet, or they lack sufficient skills to exploit the
benefits of ICT. This lack of skills and access to computers may lead to computer anxiety and
low computer self-efficacy among undergraduates entering higher education. Low computer
anxiety and high computer self-efficacy levels are important factors in assisting students to
be academically successful in the present technological era. This article reports on a study
that assessed the computer anxiety, computer self-efficacy and attitude towards the internet
among first year students at a South African university of technology. Data collection was
done through a five section survey. The research revealed that students suffer from moderate
computer anxiety; they have a moderate compute self-efficacy; and their attitude towards the
internet is positive. The results, research contributions, and limitations are discussed, and
implications for future studies are suggested.
