Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the factors that affect the acceptance of distance learning systems by university academic staff and students in Jordan. To achieve this objective, it has been proposed to examine the distance learning experience of Jordanian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) after the universities institution suspended face-to-face (traditional) courses delivery owing to novel Coronavirus’ (COVID-19) fears.

Design/methodology/approach

This study expands upon unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 by incorporating contextual variables such as trust (TR), autonomy (AUT) and compatibility (CMP). Data collection has been carried out through an online survey, which targeted participants at public and private universities during the crisis time of coronavirus. Structural equation modelling has been used to validate the proposed research model.

Findings

The outcomes revealed that performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, TR and AUT were the significant predictors of distance learning acceptance in both samples. By identifying the factors affecting the acceptance of distance learning systems, it will be more useful to offer better services of distance learning. This will also help to demonstrate that distance learning will be capable of delivering the educational aims of HEIs to areas where a pandemic outbreak in the Middle East.

Originality/value

Distance learning provides university students with quality education, engaging platforms and most significantly a safe teaching environment. The results and implications to both practice and theory are described.

中文翻译：

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约旦高等教育部门以危机为中心的远程学习模式：在 COVID-19 大流行期间影响远程学习平台持续使用的因素

目的

本文旨在调查影响约旦大学学术人员和学生接受远程学习系统的因素。为了实现这一目标，建议在大学机构因新型冠状病毒 (COVID-19) 的恐惧而暂停面对面（传统）课程交付后，检查约旦高等教育机构 (HEIs) 的远程学习体验。

设计/方法/方法

本研究通过结合诸如信任 (TR)、自治 (AUT) 和兼容性 (CMP) 等上下文变量，扩展了接受和使用技术 2 的统一理论。数据收集是通过在线调查进行的，该调查针对冠状病毒危机期间公立和私立大学的参与者。结构方程模型已用于验证所提出的研究模型。

发现

结果显示，绩效预期、便利条件、TR 和 AUT 是两个样本中远程学习接受度的重要预测因素。通过识别影响远程学习系统接受度的因素，将更有利于提供更好的远程学习服务。这也将有助于证明远程学习将能够将高等教育机构的教育目标传递到中东爆发流行病的地区。

原创性/价值

远程学习为大学生提供了优质的教育、引人入胜的平台以及最重要的安全教学环境。描述了结果和对实践和理论的影响。