The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology

Bakhsh, Muhammad; Mahmood, Amjad; Sangi, Nazir A.

2017 The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology

doi: 10.1108/IJILT-08-2016-0028

PurposeMobile learning is a unique form of learning which uses the distinct features of mobile devices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the present state of student and faculty perception towards m-learning at open and distance educational institutes in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a conceptual model based on TAM, which explains factors influencing student and faculty perception towards m-learning acceptance. M-learning acceptance mainly depends on personal attitude, so this study focusses on individual context. Primary data from students and faculty including tutors (n=612, students =448, faculty/tutors=162) was collected through a properly designed questionnaire by using purposive convenient sampling technique during Autumn 2015 semester. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the collected data.FindingsThe results indicate that student and faculty skill readiness and self-efficacy influence perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness, where these two factors along with prior experience positively influence behavioural intension (BI) to accept mobile learning. Furthermore study results specifically provide factors which positively influence BI either directly or indirectly.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited to AIOU.Originality/valueThe study specifically provides factors which influence BI either directly or indirectly.

Mohd Daud, Norzaidi; Zakaria, Halimi

2017 The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology

doi: 10.1108/IJILT-09-2016-0046

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of antecedent factors on collaborative technologies usage among academic researchers in Malaysian research universities.Design/methodology/approachData analysis was conducted on data collected from 156 academic researchers from five Malaysian research universities. This study employed an extensive quantitative approach of a structural equation modeling method to evaluate the research model and to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe main findings of this study are that personal innovativeness, task-technology fit, and perceived peer usage are significant predictors of individual usage of collaborative technologies; perceived managerial support and subjective norm were found not to be significant predictors to perceived usefulness and individual usage; and perceived usefulness is a significant mediator to individual usage in that it had fully mediated personal innovativeness whereas partially mediated peer usage.Practical implicationsThe results provide practical insights into how the Malaysian higher education sector and other research organizations of not-for-profit structure could enhance their collaborative technologies usage.Originality/valueThis research is perhaps the first that concentrates on collaborative technologies usage in Malaysian research universities.

Isaac, Osama; Abdullah, Zaini; Ramayah, T.; Mutahar, Ahmed M.

2017 The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology

doi: 10.1108/IJILT-11-2016-0051

PurposeThe internet technology becomes an essential tool for individuals, organizations, and nations for growth and prosperity. The purpose of this paper is to integrate the DeLone and McLean IS success model with task-technology fit (TTF) to explain the performance impact of Yemeni Government employees.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire survey method was used to collect primary data from 530 internet users among employees within all 30 government ministries-institutions in Yemen. The four constructs in the proposed model were measured using existing scales. The data analysis starts with initial exploratory factor analysis, then confirmatory factor analysis and lastly structural equation modeling via AMOS.FindingsThe results showed that the proposed integrated model fits the data well. Findings of the multivariate analysis demonstrate four main results. First, actual usage has a strong positive impact on user satisfaction, TTF, and performance impact. Second, user satisfaction has a great influence on performance impact. Third, TTF has a strong positive impact on user satisfaction and performance impact. Fourth, both user satisfaction and TTF mediate the relationship between the actual usage and performance impact.Research limitations/implicationsThe public sector in Yemen contains three parts: Yemeni prime minister, Yemeni ministries, and government agencies. This study focuses only on the Yemeni employees among Yemeni ministries; hence the results are not necessarily generalizable. Moreover, there are biases when the researcher measures the actual Internet usage variable through asking a participant about their opinion regarding their usage because these are generally found to differ from the true score of system usage.Practical implicationsThe findings should be very useful for the Yemeni Government in presenting the importance of information technology effects on individual efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, the information from these findings should encourage and support the formation of future policy at the organizational level and national level. If the government utilizes these findings by setting up strategies to promote internet usage, this may, in turn, improve professional practice, personal development, and quality of working life.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the existing literature of information systems by combining actual technology usage, user satisfaction, and TTF to predict performance impact within the organizations. Furthermore, this study proposed a second-order model of performance impact in order to increase the power of explaining the output by the model, which contains four first-order constructs: process, knowledge acquisition, communication quality, and decision quality. The predictive power of the proposed model has a higher ability to explain and predict performance impact compared to those obtained from some of the previous studies.

Lau, Kung Wong; Kan, Chi Wai; Lee, Pui Yuen

2017 The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology

doi: 10.1108/IJILT-05-2016-0016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of stereoscopic virtual technology in textile and fashion studies in particular to the area of chemical experiment. The development of a designed virtual platform, called Stereoscopic Chemical Laboratory (SCL), is introduced.Design/methodology/approachTo implement the suggested educational approaches of SCL, a set of teaching and learning materials with emphasis on the application methods was revised from the existing subjects. The architecture of SCL includes building of virtual objects with the Autodesk software Maya and designing of interactivity by using Unity, a game engine system. Prototype version of the SCL has been passed to selected academic colleagues and students for further evaluation and application feedback.FindingsTextile students can conduct laboratory experiments associated with coloration and finishing of textile technologies in a stereoscopic 3D and multisensory laboratory, and hence enhance their learning experience. With the use of SCL, students can learn relevant experiment tools, experimental processes, procedures, and safety and health precautions.Originality/valueThere is very limited educational or training approach in applying stereoscopic virtual reality in teaching activities. In the area of textile experiment, the authors could say it is virtual and does not exist in current research domains.

Guiné, Raquel; Costa, Daniela; Correia, Paula; Costa, Cristina; Correia, Helena; Castro, Moises; Guerra, Luis; Seeds, Catherine; Coll, Collette; Radics, Laszlo; Arslan, Meahmet; Soylu, Soner; Tothova, Monika; Toth, Peter; Basile, Salvatore

2017 The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology

doi: 10.1108/IJILT-11-2016-0052

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to characterize the agricultural activities and past experiences in professional training in the context of mobile learning in different countries (Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Hungary, UK, Italy and Turkey).Design/methodology/approachFor the survey, a questionnaire was prepared in English and Portuguese and then translated into the languages of the participating countries. It was delivered electronically for answering online by adults only. The participation was voluntary and in the end 133 consented valid questionnaires were obtained. For the treatment of the data, SPSS was used and basic descriptive statistics tools were applied, together with tests, namely, crosstabs and χ2 tests, considering a level of significance of 5 percent.FindingsThe results showed that the majority of the participants presently have some agricultural activity and one-third is thinking about starting one in the future. Most of the participants want to produce food organically, with significant differences among the countries studied in this paper. Most of the participants were enrolled in training activities in agriculture, especially those with higher education. This participation showed significant differences between countries as well as according to the dimension of the farms owned by the participants. A significant association was found between being a teacher in forming activities related to agriculture and being a farmer. When compared to distance learning, the training activities in classroom were the most frequent, with significant differences among the countries.Practical implicationsThis study allowed characterizing the learning activities in the field of organic agriculture and established vision for planning of future training programs, in different countries, with maybe different social, educational and cultural realities.Originality/valueBecause the study included the participation of people from several countries all around Europe, the results obtained enrich the scientific area of training in organic farming, in view of distance learning vs classroom learning on a more global basis.

Raja Yusof, Raja Jamilah; Qazi, Atika; Inayat, Irum

2017 The International Journal of Information and Learning Technology

doi: 10.1108/IJILT-03-2017-0018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to monitor in-class activities and the performance of the students.Design/methodology/approachA pilot study was conducted to evaluate the proposed system using a questionnaire with 132 participants (teachers and non-teachers) in a presentation style to record the participant’s perception about performance expectancy (PE), effort expectancy (EE), facilitating conditions (FC), usability expectancy (UE) and user’s satisfaction (S) based on unified theory of acceptance use of technology (UTAUT) model.FindingsThe results show that PE, EE, FC had positive and significant influence on the UE of the proposed system. The effect of EE and FC on UE was seen to be more in female compared to male participants. The teacher category considered the PE and EE as important factors in determining their decision to use the proposed system.Originality/valueA real-time student(s) visualization system based on the concept of real-time student locating system using radio frequency identification technology is proposed. Concepts can be categorized within the Internet of Things in the education domain.