Asian Social Science; Vol. 8, No. 16; 2012 ISSN 1911-2017 E-ISSN 1911-2025 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 128 Learning Process in Mathematics and Statistics Courses towards Engineering Students: E-learning or Traditional Method? Norngainy Mohd Tawil 1 , Nur Arzilah Ismail 1 , Izamarlina Asshaari 1 , Haliza Osman 1 , Zulkifli Mohd Nopiah 1 & Azami Zaharim 1, 2 1 Unit of Fundamental Engineering Studies, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Centre of Engineering Education, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia Correspondence: Norngainy Mohd Tawil, Unit of Fundamental Engineering Studies, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: 60-3-8921-6691. E-mail: nmtawil@gmail.com Received: September 24, 2012 Accepted: November 7, 2012 Online Published: November 30, 2012 doi:10.5539/ass.v8n16p128 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ass.v8n16p128 Abstract Engineering courses such as Mathematics and Statistics at an undergraduate level are frequently presented to the students in traditional way. In order to be parallel with young generations in terms of technology, e-learning was introduced to engineering students in FKAB with the hope that e-learning is a way to enhance learning in a more convenience and cost-effective manner. This study examines students’ perception towards the importance and usefulness of modern technologies such as e-learning (WILEY PLUS) in comparison with the more traditional lecture, as knowledge delivery or alternatively, a method of learning process. The objectives of this study are to test whether there is any difference between these two methods and to identify which method is more important and agreeable to the students. A total of 182 students of First Year and 179 of Second Year engineering students at the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, UKM who have taken Mathematics and Statistics courses respectively involved in this survey. The descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics as paired t-test was used to compare these two methods. This study reveals that there is a significant difference between WILEY PLUS and lecturing in Mathematics and Statistics courses. Overall, lecturing was significantly of importance and favourable in the learning process for both courses compared to the newly-introduced WILEY PLUS. Keywords: e-learning, WILEY PLUS, lecturing, paired t-test, students’ perception, students’ agreeability 1. Introduction In modern technology nowadays, e-learning has been developed to become a new method of learning. Many institutions use this technology to improve the students’ performance as well as lecturers. E-learning is defined as information and communication technologies; a network, including the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web; delivered on time, at any time; and an electronic exchange of information for the purpose of learning. Berge & Collins (1995) define an E-Learning as an educational setting, in which teaching and learning take place within an internet-based environment. Along with the development of information technology, E-learning played an increasingly important role in teaching and learning (Chang and Chen, 2009). The rapid development of computer and internet technologies has led to e-learning as an important facet of education in the information age (Liaw et al., 2007). The existence of e-learning allows the students to perform various learning activities in virtual classroom. As we know, e-learning is an online learning approach and tools that can be access anytime and anywhere. Furthermore, e-learning has the potential to become a lower cost and efficient education tool (White, 2003). In Newcastle University, the e-learning has implemented in Mathematics and Statistics courses because the needs of extra functionality, more control over the content, delivery and feedback and the ability to deliver e-assessments to local schools and colleges using a variety of platforms as part of an outreach initiative to the courses (Foster et al., 2004). Besides e-learning, traditional lecture delivery or lecturing is a common strategy method of learning process at the tertiary level. There are many definitions of lecturing persistent in the context of further education. Joan and