Browsing by Author "Wijewardene, U. P."

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    CRITICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING STUDENTS’ ACCEPTANCE OF ONLINE LEARNING OVER TRADITIONAL METHOD: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY IN SRI LANKAN HIGHER EDUCATION
    (Department of Marketing Management, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka, 2017) Wijewardene, U. P.; Khatibi, A.
    The study focuses on the conceptual development of beliefs based measures in technology acceptance of online learning over traditional method, with respect to Sri Lankan higher education. This research provides valuable insights on managerial interventions, investments and controls for better organizational e-learning management that can lead to greater acceptance and effective utilization. Unlike much preceding studies that has focused on only a limited aspect of beliefs based measures, this research provides a more comprehensive conceptual structure that emphasizes the effects of various unconventional exogenous elements such as innovativeness and eco-friendliness. The research assesses the nomological validity of the conceptualization by integrating the theories, technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behaviour (TPB), unified theory of acceptance (UTAUT) and diffusion of innovation theory (DIT) in a voluntary environment. To produce more sturdy and innovative results, the research first confirms the influence of conventional variables on online learning acceptance. Secondly, it emphasizes the influence of newly added constructs. PhD university students in Colombo District, Sri Lanka being considered as the target population and the model of this study will be tested with a field sample of 150 students (Population is around 200). The population is stratified into 3 distinct categories (1. University of Colombo, 2. Open University, Sri Lanka 3. MSU, Sri Lanka); thereafter subjects are drawn disproportionate to their original numbers in the population. An instrument with 7-point likert scale measures, is used to obtain responses. The structural equation model is applied to analyse the relationships demarcated in the theoretical model of the study. Subsequently, the hypotheses linked with ‘‘factors associated with technology acceptance of online learning, among the PhD university students in Colombo, Sri Lanka’’ will be substantiated, by emphasising the relationship among prior factors, antecedent factors and consequent factors. The factors which are highly influential to enhance the level of technology acceptance of online learning will be filtered out at the end to allocate necessary investments.
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    END-USER ACCEPTANCE OF ONLINE LEARNING: AN INTEGRATION OF ACCEPTANCE MODELS WITH USER-CENTERED DESIGN (UCD) IMPLICATIONS
    (Department of Marketing Management, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka, 2017) Wijewardene, U. P.; Abeywickrama, D.
    Digital technology is now woven deeply into the fabric of university teaching and learning ranging from the institutional provision of learning management systems, e-journals and plagiarism detection tools, to the widespread individual use of word-processing, email, Google, Wikipedia and social media platforms. Nevertheless, lack of user acceptance has long been an impediment to the success of internet based pedagogical services including online learning courses. At the same time, attractive interfaces with high aesthetic qualities and user-cantered orientation, arouses attention, are easier to learn, produce more harmonious results and work better. The present research addresses why students accept or refuse internet based pedagogical systems and how students’ acceptance is affected by the system or technological platform design features. It predominantly reviews the nature of technological acceptance, which is mediated by distinct factor groups related to the psychology of the end-users, the design process of information technology and the quality of the technology in enduser terms by conceptually integrating the theories, technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behaviour (TPB), unified theory of acceptance (UTAUT) and diffusion of innovation theory (DIT), in a voluntary environment. The paper draws upon data gathered from a survey of postgraduate students across 3 Sri Lankan universities in Colombo district. The analysis is based on descriptive and inferential statistics and was analysed using SPSS. The structural equation model is applied to analyse the relationships demarcated in the theoretical model of the study. Subsequently, based on the outcomes, this study provides valuable insights on managerial interventions, investments and controls for better organizational online learning management that can lead to greater acceptance and effective utilization.