Using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to Investigate the Effectiveness of a Learning Management System in University Teaching

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of using a Learning Management System (Blackboard) to support face-to-face teaching and learning. A total of 168 students enrolled in an elective course at Kuwait University were involved in this study. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was adopted to construct the study’s tool for evaluating the course effectiveness. Six factors were tested Prior technology experience, Ease of use, Usefulness, Attitudes, Effectiveness of Technology, and Level of technology use. Results showed that ease of use and usefulness both had positive impact on attitudes toward the technology. Further ore, learner attitudes are found to have a clear impact on the effectiveness of technology which, in turn, has affected the level of its use. These findings indicate that TAM can be a vital model for investigating the effectiveness of technology implementation. The study concludes with some practical recommendations in regard to e-learning implementation in higher education.