International Journal of Information Studies Volume 4 Number 2 April 2012 41 Graduate Students Attitude Towards E-learning Abdullah Almobarraz 1 , Ahmed Farag 2 1 Imam University P.O. Box 25957, Riyadh 11573 Saudi Arabia 2 Imam University, Saudi Arabia Assiut University, Egypt ahmadfarag@yahoo.com, almobarraz@gmail.com ABSTRACT: In the past few years, a new wave of many technologies, particularly the Internet has emerged with the potential to further enhance the teaching and learning environment in higher education. Many studies in the recent years have shown that E-learning use in the classrooms has increased over the past years. However, the process of E-learning and its applications is limited in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through this empirical study, a limited research was initiated to track the perceptions of the students toward the E-learning. The results indicate an overall positive attitude towards the E-learning. Keywords: E-Learning, Learning attitudes, E-Learning practices Received: 2 January 2012, Revised 5 February 2012, Accepted 11 February 2012 1. Introduction: The information and communication technology (ICT) has impacted the E-learning process in universities and higher educational institutions and changed the ways people learn. Among all the technologies, the Internet perhaps is the most influential medium in the educational system. One reason can be seen from its popularity and wide spread use worldwide. The Internet breaks the geographical border between the learners and the teachers. The physical presence of students in classrooms is not mandatory to learn and a pre-requisite to obtain a degree. E-learning makes possible to interact among participants and stakeholders, read books, listen to lectures, do homework, and be tested by teachers while students in their home. The general concept of E-learning can be described as a learning environment that applies different types of technology such as computers, multimedia software, Internet applications to enhance the experience of people. [9] defines it as “the delivery of a learning, training or education program by electronic means”. E-learning involves the use of a computer or electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) in some way to provide training, educational or learning material. In the past, the term e-learning referred to any method of learning that used electronic delivery methods. With the advent of the Internet however, e-learning has evolved and the term is now most commonly used to refer to online courses. [6] E-learning may be exhibited in different types [11]: The significant among them are the following. • Purely online - no face-to-face meetings • Blended Learning - mixture of online and face-to-face meetings • Synchronous (videoconference, chat…)