There has been increasing interest among researchers to understand the negative effects of technology, in the last two decades. Technostress or stress induced due to technology is extensively reported in the literature, among working professionals. Even though there has been an increased proliferation of digital devices in academia, there is a dearth of studies examining the prevalence of technostress and its impact among students. This study examines the prevalence of technostress among the younger population, in the age group of 18–28 years. Using a sample of 673 Indian private university students, this study cross-validated the technostress instrument. Increased use of technology in higher education has compelled students to complete all their academic work, including assessments, using technology. Technology-enhanced learning applications such as learning management systems, MOOCs and digital exam devices require students to develop ICT skills. The study also investigates the impact of technostress on the academic productivity of students. Findings reveal that the technostress instrument is valid to be used in the academic context, with minor modifications, and students experienced moderate levels of technostress. It was also found that technostress had a negative impact on the academic productivity of students.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have widely been acknowledged as a unified platform to reduce the digital divide and make education accessible to all. It also enables students’ access to professors and educational contents sans spatial and institutional barriers. Despite several benefits, MOOCs’ adoption and completion rate remain unimpressive, especially among developing countries. Using Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2), we examine the key factors that influence the behavioral intention to use MOOCs among students in an Indian private university. The data from 412 postgraduate students were analyzed using Partial Least Squares-Structured Equation Modelling. The study identifies barriers to use MOOCs, in a university that has offered free MOOCs courses and certifications to the students. The study makes several theoretical contributions and offer adequate insights for higher education institutions to administer and integrate MOOCs in their curriculum.

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The current study examines students’ coping process of a forced technological intervention in academic outcome assessment in a higher education setting. A mixed-method approach was used to study 246 post-graduate students’ post-usage behaviour of electronic tablet-PC exams and examined their end-user satisfaction. This is an empirical study grounded in the Coping Model of User Adaptation (CMUA). Respondents of the study comprise of post-graduate students, who were exposed to an innovative digital device for writing descriptive exams as a substitute to the conventional paper-mode exam. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Nvivo. Findings indicate that problem-focused coping has a significant influence on end-user satisfaction, and on the contrary emotion-focused coping is insignificant among the students. The study offers insights into those institutions, which are aspiring to advance with similar interventions in academic outcome assessment. The study contributes to the literature on technostress, coping strategy, and end-user satisfaction of ICT.

This article intends to propose an integrative framework to make learning versatile, comprehensive and more effective, giving due cognizance to the fact that students of the future may require more knowledge and skill sets to thrive in the evolving digital era. The study followed an interpretivist philosophy to accomplish its goal. As a conceptual article, the research team has contemplated on the proposed design, which was deliberated with academic administrators and experts, and students. The study has proposed a supplementary architecture to reinforce the traditional learning ecosystem by leveraging the ubiquitous presence of technology-enabled learning atmosphere. The conceptual framework proposed would guide higher education institutions to relook at their course structure and implement flexible, versatile programmes. Exposure to multiple discipline verticals can help learners develop a civic citizenship. The article has attempted to overhaul the existing confined-learning environment with a new outlook.