Structural Equation Modeling for Mobile Learning Acceptance by University Students: An Empirical Study

Abstract

Advanced mobile devices and global internet services have enhanced the usage of smartphones in the education sector and their potential for fulfilling teaching and learning objectives. The current study is an attempt to assess the factors affecting mobile learning acceptance by Saudi university students. A theoretical model of mobile learning acceptance was developed based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. Theoretically, five independent constructs were identified as most contributory towards the use of mobile learning and tested empirically. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using SmartPLS. The results of the study indicate that four constructs were significantly associated with mobile learning acceptance: perceived usefulness (β = 0.085, t = 2.201, and p = 0.028), perceived ease of use (β = 0.031, t = 1.688, and p = 0.013), attitude (β = 0.100, t = 3.771, and p = 0.037), and facilitating conditions (β = 0.765, t = 4.319, and p = 0.001). On the other hand, social influence was insignificant (β = –0.061, t = 0.136, and p = 0.256) for mobile learning acceptance. The contribution of social influence towards the use of mobile learning was negative and insignificant; hence, it was neglected. Thus, finally, four constructs (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, and facilitating conditions) were considered as important determinants of mobile learning acceptance by university students.

E-Learning Acceptance: The Role of Task–Technology Fit as Sustainability in Higher Education

“…The significance of perceived ease of use in the field of e-learning has been examined by a number of researchers. Thus, the results of this study confirm previous relationships between factors [55,[76][77][78]. Similarly, the study's findings strongly support the perceived enjoyment variable, which confirms hypotheses five and six, indicating that perceived enjoyment has a positive impact on e-learning usage as sustainability in education and task-technology fit.…”

Adoption of mobile technology for mobile learning by university students during COVID-19

“…The great reputation is gained by TAM in various studies related to technology acceptance and TAM appears as a ground theory in literature for e-learning acceptance (Weerasinghe and Hindagolla, 2017). However, there is still a gap noticed in its applicability in educational framework related to mobile learning and particularly in educational settings the existing knowledge of TAM is yet to be explored (Grani c and Maranguni c, 2019;Naveed et al, 2020). Some of the recent studies show the use and extension of TAM in the context of mlearning.…”

“…The Davis (1989) TAM suggested the relationships amongst its various constructs and shows the impact of PU and POES on attitude towards usage of the technology and significantly impact the people's intentions (Davis et al, 1989;Davis, 1989). PEOU indicates the usage of technological systems by any individual without placing any extra efforts and hence individual finds easiness in using the technology for m-learning (Hamidi and Jahanshaheefard, 2019;Naveed et al, 2020). Kumar et al (2020) study related to m-learning addresses the PEOU and its utility to measure the students' belief in m-learning also considers that PU will be able to enhance students' learning practices by m-learning and accomplish the educational purpose.…”

Adopting xRM in Higher Education: E-Services Outside the Classroom

“…Many researchers have used the UTAUT model to conduct studies that explore a variety of subjects in a wide range of different environments [52]. Regarding the higher education context, previous studies have mostly used UTAUT/UTAUT2 to explore the acceptance and usage of mobile technologies, regarding learning and the applying of mobile devices in a learning environment [5,6,22,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]. No study to date has either explored or evaluated the acceptance and usage by students of academic xRM e-services that serve them outside the classroom.…”

“…It has long been known that building and maintaining strong customer relationships is the key to sustainable success in any business [17][18][19][20]. Subsequently, taking fast-paced digital shifts into account, higher education institution's management nowadays should focus on building better relationships with its stakeholders [21,22]. In his work Bejou [23] suggest adopting customer relationship management (CRM) as a way to establish and foster connections between students and the HEI.…”