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Investigating the drivers and barriers to MOOCs adoption: The perspective of TAM

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Abstract

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are emerging as the new trend for modern higher education institutions. Student acceptance is viewed as the key determinant for the success of MOOCs. This study intends to examine factors influencing higher education students’ behavioral intention to adopt MOOCs. Thus, this study proposes the use of a modified Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Data is collected via an online survey from a sample of 403 participants in Jordan. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to assess the accuracy of the research model. The results reveal that 1) students’ behavioral intention to adopt MOOCs is positively affected by the perceived ease of use and by the perceived usefulness, 2) self-regulated learning has both a negative direct and indirect (through perceived usefulness) influence on behavioral intention, 3) computer self-efficacy and perceived convenience have positive indirect effects on behavioral intention through the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and 4) learning tradition has a negative indirect effect on behavioral intention through self-regulated learning. Based on the results, various implications (both practical and theoretical), and suggestions for future research, have been highlighted.

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to the faculty members of Electronic Business and Management Information Systems departments at Al Ahliyya Amman University for their supports. Furthermore, special thanks to Dr. Maher Al-Horani for his endless support, inspiration, and encouragement.

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Correspondence to Ahmad Samed Al-Adwan.

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The author declares that there is no conflict of interests.

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Appendix

Appendix

Construct

Items

Reference

Perceived Usefulness (PU)

PU1: “I believe MOOCs will improve my learning performance”.

Wu and Chen (2017);

Hsu et al. (2018)

PU2: “The learning mechanism of MOOCs platform should be in line with my need”.

PU3: “The learning operation of MOOCs platform in line with my need”.

PU4: “Using MOOCs will enhance my learning effectiveness”.

Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU)

PEOU1: “It will be easy for me to use MOOCs platform”.

Tao et al. (2019);

Yang and Su (2017)

PEOU2: “find it easy to get MOOCs platform to do what I want it to do”.

PEOU3: “It is easy for me to become skillful at using MOOCs platform”.

PEOU4: “Using the MOOCs platform will not require a lot of my mental effort”.

Computer Self-efficacy (CSE)

CSE1: “I have the confidence to learn a variety of computer skills”.

Hsu et al. (2018)

CSE2: “For me the computer is easy to use”.

CSE3: “It is not difficult for me to operate a computer skillfully”.

CSE4: “It was easy for me to use a computer to do what I wanted to do”.

Perceived Convenience (PEC)

PEC1: “MOOCs platform will allow me to engage with peers and instructors at any time”.

Hsu et al. (2018);

Bere and Rambe (2013)

PEC 2: “MOOCs platform will be convenient for academic engagement purposes”.

PEC3: “MOOCs platform can make me easily carry out the online learning”.

PEC4: “MOOCs platform will let me catch the learning information in real-time”.

Learning Tradition (LTR)

LTR1: “I prefer tradition ways of learning”.

Ma and Lee (2020);

Ma and Lee (2018)

LTR2: “I prefer r traditional teaching methods with instructors”.

LTR3: “I prefer face-to-face communication with my instructors and peers”.

Behavior Intention (BEI)

BEI1: “Using MOOCs for acquiring knowledge is something I would do in the future”.

Yang and Su (2017);

Gao and Yang (2016)

BEI2: “I intend to use MOOCs for my learning needs”.

BEI3: “I will be enthusiastic about participating in MOOCs”.

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Al-Adwan, A.S. Investigating the drivers and barriers to MOOCs adoption: The perspective of TAM. Educ Inf Technol 25, 5771–5795 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10250-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10250-z

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