The incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into education systems is an active program and movement in education that illustrates modern education and enables an all-encompassing presence in the third millennium; however, prior to applying ICT, the factors affecting the adoption and use of these technologies should be carefully investigated. The present study was conducted to examine the factors affecting ICT adoption among distance education students based on the Technology Acceptance Model. The present descriptive survey was conducted in a statistical population consisting of all the distance education students residing in Isfahan, Iran, in 2013, 281 of who were selected as the sample population through simple random sampling. The data collection tool used was a researcher-made questionnaire designed based on field studies and using the questionnaires used in studies conducted by Nair (2012), Alanazy (2006) and Wikins (2008). The items in each section were designed based on the constructs and factors forming the Technology Acceptance Model examined in this study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data in SPSS-21 and LISREL. The results of the analysis showed significant relationships between perceived usefulness and ease of ICT use and the attitude toward the use of these technologies, between the attitude toward ICT use and the decision to use ICT, and also between the decision to use ICT and its actual use.
Background: Multimedia programs as a powerful tool to be used to improve the quality of education. This study investigated the effect of education using multimedia programs on academic performance of students. Methods: This research was semi-experimental and pre-test, post-test type with control group. In the present research, 40 students in second grade in 2013-2014 in Isfahan city were selected using multistage cluster sampling and random methods in two groups, such as control and experimental. Pre-test was performed for both experimental and control groups before the experiment. Students in the experimental group were trained for three units of empirical sciences lesson for 3 months using training multimedia program for an academic semester and control group were totally taught using the traditional method. At the end of the teaching period, educational performance test was administered simultaneously to the experimental and control groups. At the last phase, re-test was conducted on the studied groups in order to examine the rate of memorization of the taught contents using multimedia program after 3 months. The data collection tools were teacher made tests that its validity and reliability were confirmed. Both descriptive and inferential statistics (mean, standard deviation, and T-test) were analyzed with statistical package for social sciences (SPSS19) software. Results: The results showed an increase as compared to the pre-test (18.18) and post-test scores (16.35) of the two groups; the experimental group obtained significantly higher achievement test than the control group. Also, the retention test scores of the students in the experimental group showed significant difference (P < 0.001) than the control group. Conclusions: Multimedia as a new tool in teaching has new skills for change in education and improve teaching and learning and it can promote with appropriate and correct application the quality of education in educational systems.
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