Network‐based learning is now such an important area that it would seem timely to examine progress to date and to draw conclusions regarding the direction of further research. This paper is the result of a survey of computer systems for distributed and distance learning, focusing on projects that help to illustrate the evolution of this important field. An examination such as this is important in its own right as a resource for other researchers wishing to pursue the subject further, but the survey also helps to highlight some of the major trends of past projects and to suggest some of the ways in which progress may be made in the future.
Purpose
While educators and students alike are increasingly moving to use on-line technologies, there is still much to be learned about how these tools influence student learning. The purpose of this paper is to present a comparative investigation of the online use of one undergraduate (UG) and two postgraduate (PG) student cohorts undertaking similar “introduction to management” courses.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework to examine student cohorts’ (UG vs PG, with two nuances within PG) use of the same online learning platform.
Findings
Students’ acceptance and use of technology increases as the authors move from UG to PG with little to no work experience and were highest for PG students with two years plus work experience. These findings suggest that educators delivery of materials via online learning platforms requires a more nuanced approach than the “one-size fits all” that tends to be adopted.
Research limitations/implications
The study is confined to students undertaking management in the academic rather than vocational area and the authors have limited the study to a quantitative methodology which uses regression analysis.
Practical implications
This current study provides academic practitioners with an insight into some of the challenges facing higher education in managing different student cohorts in ways that provide them all with what is seen as a quality learning experience.
Originality/value
Given the relatively recent development of the UTAUT model, the authors suggest that an important part of its value is in providing comparative UG vs PG views as to the effectiveness of online and technology-assisted learning tools.
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