Use and acceptance of learning platforms within universities

Simeonova, Boyka and Bogolyubov, Pavel and Blagov, Evgeniy (2013) Use and acceptance of learning platforms within universities. In: Proceedings of The 14th European Conference on Knowledge Management held at the Kaunas University of Technology Kaunas, Lithuania 5-6 September 2013. UNSPECIFIED, LTU, pp. 642-651. ISBN 978-1-909507-38-8

Abstract

Virtual Learning Environments(VLEs) are learning platforms within uni‐ versities aiming to enhance students’ learning. In order to determine the success of VLE adoption in universitiesitis essentialto identify the factors which influence the students’ acceptance and use of VLE systems and potentially to develop a theoretical model which can predict the influence of these factors on the students' learning activities. We are adopting the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model developed by Venkatesh et al. (2003)to identi‐ fy and test the underlying factorsinfluencing VLE acceptance and use. UTAUT is a relatively new and untested model especially within cross‐culturalsettingsin the context of Higher Education (Straub, 2009). The adoption ofUTAUT to explore the use and acceptance oftechnology – and particularly VLEs – in educationalsettings is somehow limited. We posit that this model is appropriate for this context and we position our research to fill these gaps. We are testing the model in three business schools in universities in two different countries. We are aiming to test the model within UK and Russian educational settings using factor analysis by deploying Venkatesh et al.’s (2003) questionnaire among students. If UTAUT has been used in varioussettings, its adoption appearsto lack rigourin explaining the significance of the identified factors which can shape acceptance and use. The results would help enhancing and hopefully strengthening the theory by testing the factors’ loadings and their impact on VLE acceptance and use within educa‐ tional settings to enhance knowledge creation, sharing, mapping and collabora‐ tion. The results demonstrate the validity oftheUTAUTmodel in different cultural settings as well as the deeper cultural differences in the perceptions of use and acceptance of VLEs which highlightthe crucialrole of culture on technology adop‐ tion