Users’ continuance intention of virtual learning community services: the moderating role of usage experience

Users’ continuance intention plays a significant role in the process of information system (IS) service, especially virtual learning community (VLC) services. Following the IS success model and IS post-acceptance model, this study explores the determinants of users’ intention to continue using VLCs’ service from the perspective of quality, including perceived information quality (completeness, relevance and timeless) together with perceived interaction quality (responsiveness and connectedness) and focuses on the moderating effect of usage experience. The research hypotheses are empirically validated by using the responses received from a survey of 313 college students and the research model is assessed by structural equation model. The results show that perceived information quality and perceived interaction quality can directly affect perceived usefulness (PU), perceived satisfaction and ultimately determine users’ continuance intention. In addition, the findings verify that usage experience plays an important moderating role. The impact of PU on continuance intention is greater for low-experience users. In contrast, the impact of information satisfaction and interaction satisfaction on continuance intention is greater for high-experience users.     

Why do college students continue to use mobile learning? Learning involvement and self-determination theory

Retaining learners and facilitating their continuance are critical for the mobile learning providers and educators. Drawing on stimulus-organism-response framework and self-determination theory, this study examines factors that affect college students' mobile learning continuance by considering the self-determination needs and learning involvement. A research model was developed and empirically tested against data collected from 309 college students who are the mobile learning users of an online education platform in China. The results of structural equation modeling analysis showed that perceived learning support, self-management of learning and peer influence significantly influence affective learning involvement, which in turn positively affect mobile learning continuance intention. In addition, perceived learning support and peer influence also significantly influence cognitive learning involvement, which further determine mobile learning continuance intention. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are also discussed.     

Understanding MOOC continuance: An empirical examination of social support theory

ABSTRACT

Learning outcomes is mediated by multi-channel learning environment and social engagement. Both factors may play a significant role in understanding motivation to learn in massive open online courses (MOOCs). The goal of this study was twofold: a. to compare behavior intention patterns of traditional e-learning platform and MOOCs participants; b. to examine relationships between behavior intention and perceived social support. Therefore, this study applies the concepts of technology acceptance model and social support theory to examine the underlying the determinants of learners’ continuance intention factors for MOOCs in Taiwan. In addition, this study adopts perceived convenience, computer self-efficacy, sense of community, and perceived gains as the constructs of social support perspective. Our examination reveals that sense of community, and perceived gains influence learners’ behavior intention of both general e-learning platform and MOOCs. However, perceived convenience and computer self-efficacy did not influence learners’ behavior intention for traditional e-learning platform, but still have efforts for MOOCs. In summary, our results show that the social support theory and technology acceptance model could be the suitable examination model to investigate the behavioral intentions for MOOCs. These findings have significant theoretical and managerial implications.     

Computer-based course evaluation: an extended technology acceptance model

This study explored the antecedents of students’ intention to participate in computer-based course evaluation. The study proposed an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) that integrated subjective norm and perceived relevance into TAM. Based on the responses from 149 business school students in Macao, the study identified the direct and indirect effects of subjective norm and perceived relevance on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and students’ intention to participate in computer-based course evaluation. The results of structural equation modelling showed that subjective norm had a positive, strong and significant effect on perceived relevance that in turn affected perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Besides, subjective norm and perceived usefulness had direct effects on students’ intention to participate in computer-based course evaluation. Thus, subjective norm played a major role in affecting Chinese students’ participation in course evaluation.     

Understanding the quality factors that influence the continuance intention of students toward participation in MOOCs

The massive open online course (MOOC) is emerging as the new paradigm for modern education. The success of MOOCs depends on learners’ continued usage. Drawing upon the information systems success model (IS success model) and technology acceptance model, a theoretical model for studying learners’ continuance intentions toward participation in MOOCs was developed. Based on survey data from 294 respondents, structural equation modeling was employed to assess the model. The results of this analysis indicate that system quality, course quality, and service quality were significant antecedents of the continuance intention of individuals, and the effect of course quality and service quality were mediated by perceived usefulness. The results contribute to the extant literatures in the context of MOOCs learning by identifying the critical quality factors, and provide managerial guidelines for MOOCs utilization and generalization. The implications of the present findings for research and managerial practice are discussed.     

中职生歧视知觉与学习倦怠:专业认同和心理资本的中介作用

为探讨歧视知觉与学习倦怠的关系,以及专业认同和心理资本在二者关系中的中介作用机制,采用歧视知觉量表、专业认同量表、积极心理资本量表和学习倦怠量表,对1514名中职生进行施测。结果表明:(1)歧视知觉与学习倦怠呈显著正相关;(2)歧视知觉、学习倦怠均与专业认同、心理资本呈显著负相关;(3)专业认同和心理资本分别在歧视知觉与学习倦怠间起中介作用,且二者在中职生歧视知觉与学习倦怠的关系中具有链式中介效应。     

Returning after taking a break in online distance higher education: from intention to effective re-enrollment

One of online distance learning’s positive attributes is its flexibility. However, the possibility of engaging in periods of non-enrollment (breaks) usually ends in students dropping out. In this paper, the intention to continue of those students who have not enrolled in the second semester is analyzed, adopting a long-term program perspective. This continuance intention is compared with the subsequent restart (or dropping out) in the third semester. This analysis has confirmed that the models of continuance intention and effective re-enrollment are essentially different. Continuance intention is more rational, even logical, and is mainly based on the level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the educational experience (difficulty of the learning materials or perception of the learning system). Effective re-enrollment is more practical or pragmatic, with more importance given to the effects of student dimension variables, for example, motivations for studying, previous university experience, or environmental variables, such as having a job.     

Context and agency: complementarity and interactivity

In the article ‘Factors predicting online university students’ use of a mobile learning management system (m-LMS)’, Joo, Kim and Kim (Educ Technol Res Dev 64:611–30, 2016) explain actual usage of a mobile learning management system by looking at continuance intention, satisfaction, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and expectation confirmation. Perceived usefulness seems to play a pivotal role. In this reaction, it is argued that their study can be approached from to complementary and interacting perspectives: context and agency.

     

International students’ course satisfaction and continuance behavioral intention in higher education setting: an empirical assessment in Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of perceived brand orientation, intercultural friendship, and university reputation on international students’ course satisfaction and continuance behavioral intention towards the higher education in Malaysia. A total of 348 questionnaires, administered on international students, were collected to empirically test the research model using partial least squares path modeling approach, a structural equation modeling technique for the assessment of measurement and structural model. The empirical results imply that perceived brand orientation and university reputation positively influence course satisfaction and course continuance behavioral intention, while intercultural friendships influences course continuance intention but not course satisfaction. The implications and limitations of research are discussed in the following sections.     

Exploring learner acceptance of the use of virtual reality in medical education: a case study of desktop and projection-based display systems

Advanced technologies have been widely applied in medical education, including human-patient simulators, immersive virtual reality Cave Automatic Virtual Environment systems, and video conferencing. Evaluating learner acceptance of such virtual reality (VR) learning environments is a critical issue for ensuring that such technologies are used to greatest effect. This research describes the use of high performance real-time interactive software (VR4MAX) to build a prototype 3D VR learning system. A questionnaire survey was distributed to 167 university students to investigate learner attitudes toward learning via VR applications. Experimental results show that immersion and imagination features of VR-mediated course contents have a positive impact on perceived usefulness, and can also predict perceived ease of use, both of which contributors to behavioral intention of learners to use VR learning systems. Overall, this research validates the relationship between three features of VR and learners' behavioral intention to use VR learning. The results could prove helpful in guiding future research related to VR learning.     

The effects of feedback on achievement,interest and self-evaluation: the role of feedback’s perceived usefulness

The impact of two types of written feedback (process-oriented, grade-oriented) on changes in mathematics achievement, interest and self-evaluation was compared – with a particular focus on the mediating role of feedback’s perceived usefulness. Participants, 146 ninth graders (aged 14 to 17?years), were assigned to either a process-oriented or a grade-oriented experimental feedback condition. They worked on mathematics tests, received feedback on their test results and completed surveys measuring feedback’s perceived usefulness, interest and self-evaluation. Results of path analysis showed that process-oriented feedback was perceived as more useful than grade-oriented feedback and that feedback’s perceived usefulness had a positive effect on changes in achievement and interest. Consistent with this, process-oriented feedback had a greater positive indirect effect than grade-oriented feedback on changes in mathematics achievement and interest via its perceived usefulness. There were no such effects on changes in self-evaluation. Potential explanations for these findings, educational implications and possible directions for future research are discussed.     

大学生在线学习行为数据分享意愿研究

学习行为数据的来源是学习分析研究领域的重要分支之一。通过文献梳理和回顾,发现大学生在线学习行为数据分享意愿的研究有待深入。运用技术接受模型,选择网络隐私顾虑、信任、感知易用性和感知有用性为自变量,个人数据分享意愿为因变量构建了初始概念模型,并提出了相应的假设。为了检验这一概念模型,以抽样调查获取的206名商科类大学生的相关数据作为样本进行结构方程模型分析,并结合相关拟合指标对初始概念模型进行了修正。结论显示:感知易用性和网络隐私顾虑对个人数据分享意愿没有直接作用,但前者通过感知有用性和信任两个中介变量正向间接作用于个人数据分享意愿,后者通过信任作为中介变量负向间接作用于个人数据分享意愿;感知易用性对信任有较为显著的正向作用,网络隐私顾虑对信任有负向作用,但不显著;感知易用性对感知有用性有显著的正向作用。     

The moderating effect of experience on the intention to adopt mobile social network sites for pedagogical purposes: An extension of the technology acceptance model

With numerous benefits of utilising mobile social network sites (SNSs) for learning purposes, limited studies have been conducted to determine the factors that influence the adoption of mobile SNSs in facilitating learning. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of students’ behavioural intention to use mobile SNSs for their pedagogical purposes by utilising an extended version of Technology Acceptance Model. Furthermore, the moderating effect of users’ experience on their behavioural intention was investigated. Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 600 students from top-five public universities of Malaysia. The results revealed perceived task-technology fit as the great predictor of users’ intention and perceived usefulness. Although the moderating impact of students’ experience on the model found to be positive, it was not supported in this study. The contributions of this study both to the literature and practice are discussed.     

Predicting continued use of online teacher professional development and the influence of social presence and sociability

This study examined how a well‐established Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) could predict teachers' intentions to continue using e‐learning for professional development based on perceived ease of use and usefulness. Although studies have shown social interactions are important to teachers, no study has analyzed the mediating influence of social presence and sociability within e‐learning professional development. Therefore, the original TAM was expanded to encompass user perceptions of social presence and sociability. Structural equation modeling was used to measure the mediating affects on their intention to continue using e‐learning for their professional development. The results indicate that the expanded hypothesized model was a good predictor of continuance intention. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and social presence were found to be significant determinants of teachers' intent to continue using e‐learning to meet their future professional development needs. The results have implications for educational leaders, designers and facilitators who want to promote teacher online professional development and embed e‐learning conditions that will be readily embraced by classroom teachers.     

职业技术大学学生的社交能力与感知就业能力研究:基于社会资本视角

基于社会资本的理论框架,通过问卷测量了376名全日制职业技术大学学生的社交能力、感知就业能力、资源获取及其求职学习目标导向,对其社交能力和感知就业能力的关系进行了实证研究。结果为:(1)职业技术大学学生的社交能力通过资源获取的方式,增强了其内部和外部感知就业能力;(2)职业技术大学学生的社交能力与资源获取呈正相关关系,求职学习目标导向在两者之间产生调节效应,导向程度越强,关系越强。     

Investigating older adults’ intention to learn health knowledge on social media

ABSTRACT

Abundant health knowledge resources are available on social media to facilitate technology-enhanced knowledge learning among older adults. The objective of this study is to investigate the predictors and the underlying formation mechanism of older adults’ intention to learn health knowledge on social media. We propose a novel model to examine how older adults’ emotional state (i.e., health anxiety) and cognitive state (i.e., e-health literacy) during knowledge acquisition influence threat appraisal (i.e. perceived severity and perceived susceptibility) and coping appraisal (i.e. self-efficacy and perceived benefits), thereby shaping older adults’ intention to learn health knowledge. Survey data from 337 Chinese older adult users of social media was collected to test the research model. Results reveal that perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy and perceived benefits exert positive effects on older adults’ health knowledge learning intention, while the impact of perceived severity on health knowledge learning intention is not statistically significant; health anxiety is positively correlated with perceived severity and perceived susceptibility, and e-health literacy is a powerful predictor of self-efficacy and perceived benefits. This paper enriches the literature related to technology-enhanced knowledge learning and online health behavior among older adults. Effective strategies are proposed based on the findings for practitioners dedicated to promoting health knowledge via social media and older adults who apply health knowledge to address health-related needs.     

Perceived competence and autonomy as moderators of the effects of achievement goal orientations

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of two moderators – perceived competence and perceived autonomy – in the relationships of achievement goal orientations with a broad range of learning‐related variables, including interest, effort, learning strategy use and academic achievement. Perceived competence and autonomy played roles as moderators by strengthening the positive effects of a mastery goal pursuit on outcome measures of adaptive use of learning strategies and effort, respectively. However, no moderating role of either perceived competence or perceived autonomy was found for the effect of a performance‐approach and performance‐avoidance goal pursuit. In addition, perceived competence played a significant role in determining the level of academic achievement in the context of multiple‐goal pursuit. For students with high perceived competence, the adoption of high performance‐approach goals resulted in a higher level of achievement regardless of the levels of mastery goals. In contrast, students with low perceived competence showed the highest achievement when high performance‐approach goals are paired with low mastery goals.     

Psychological and organizational variables associated with workplace learning in small and medium manufacturing businesses in Korea

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between workplace learning and psychological variables, such as learning competency, motivation, curiosity, self-esteem and locus of control, and organizational variables, such as centralization of power, formality, merit system and communication. The studied population consisted entirely of workers in small and medium manufacturing businesses in Korea. Totally, 685 workers were sampled and 388 of them were used for the analysis. The level of workplace learning in small and medium manufacturing businesses was higher than the expected average. All the variables in this study had significant positive low or moderate relationships with workplace learning. Lastly, about 50% of the variance in workplace learning was explained by communication, learning competency, merit system, motivation, centralization of power and curiosity.     

Video demonstrations can predict the intention to use digital learning technologies

The technology acceptance model (TAM) uses perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use to predict the intention to use a technology which is important when deciding to invest in a technology. Its extension for e-learning (the general extended technology acceptance model for e-learning; GETAMEL) adds subjective norm to predict the intention to use. Technology acceptance is typically measured after the technology has been used for at least three months. This study aims to identify whether a minimal amount of exposure to the technology using video demonstrations is sufficient to predict the intention to use it three months later. In two studies—one using TAM and one using GETAMEL—we showed students of different cohorts (94 and 111 participants, respectively) video demonstrations of four digital technologies (classroom response system, classroom chat, e-lectures, mobile virtual reality). We then measured technology acceptance immediately after the demonstration and after three months of technology use. Using partial least squares modelling, we found that perceived usefulness significantly predicted the intention to use three months later. In GETAMEL, perceived usefulness significantly predicted the intention to use for three of the four learning technologies, while subjective norm only predicted the intention to use for mobile virtual reality. We conclude that video demonstrations can provide valuable insight for decision-makers and educators on whether students will use a technology before investing in it.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

• The technology acceptance model helps decision-makers to determine whether students and teachers will adopt a new technology.
• Technology acceptance is typically measured after users have used the technology for three to twelve months.
• Perceived usefulness is a strong predictor of intention to use the technology.
• The predictive power of perceived ease of use for the intention to use varies from insignificant to strong.

What this paper adds

• For the four digital learning technologies (classroom chat, classroom response system, e-lectures and mobile virtual reality), we measure technology acceptance after a video demonstration and again after three months of usage.
• Using structural equation modelling, we are able to predict intention to use after three months, with perceived usefulness measured after the video demonstration.
• We replicate these findings with a second study using the general extended technology acceptance model.

Implications for practice and/or policy

• Short video demonstrations can provide information for educators to predict whether students will use a technology.
• Early impressions of perceived usefulness are very important and valuable to predict whether students will use a technology.

     

Fostering children's acceptance of educational apps: The importance of designing enjoyable learning activities

Educational applications (apps) offer opportunities for designing learning activities children enjoy and benefit from. We redesigned a typical mobile learning activity to make it more enjoyable and useful for children. Relying on the technology acceptance model, we investigated whether and how implementing this activity in an app can increase children's intention to use. During the 27-day study, children (N = 103, 9–14 years) used the app to memorize one-sentence learning plans each day. Children used three different app-based learning activities throughout the study. In two standard activities, children reread or reassembled the words of the plan. In the redesigned activity, children represented the meaning of the plan with emojis. Children repeatedly reported on their attitude towards each activity. Subsequently, children reported perceived enjoyment and intention to use the app. Results showed children found the emoji activity most enjoyable, and enjoyment of the emoji activity contributed uniquely towards intention to use. Additionally, children's enjoyment of the app mediated their intention to use the app in the future. Overall, the study suggests that children's enjoyment of an app is crucial in predicting their subsequent intention to use, and it provides a concrete example of how emojis can be used to boost enjoyment.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

• Educational applications provide children with unrestricted access to mobile learning resources.
• Positive attitudes towards educational applications predict behavioural intention to use these applications, at least in young adults.
• There is a need for more research examining the relevance of enjoyable learning activities in fostering children's sustained usage of an educational application.

What this paper adds

• Positive attitude towards the use of emojis during learning activities uniquely contributed to children's behavioural intention to use the application.
• Perceived enjoyment predicted behavioural intention to use the application.
• Perceived enjoyment mediated the effect of attitude towards using learning activities on the behavioural intention to use the mobile educational application.

Implications for practice and/or policy

• These findings highlight the importance of enjoyment for children's' acceptance of educational applications.
• Enjoyable learning activities are necessary to ensure sustained usage of educational applications.
• The paper provides a concrete example of how emojis can be used to boost enjoyment of a typical mobile learning activity.