scholarly journals University Students’ Persistence With Technology-Mediated Distance Education: A Response to COVID-19 and Beyond in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 89-108
Author(s):  
Norman Rudhumbu
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
External Stakeholders ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Technology-mediated distance education (TDE) has become part of the new normal in the range of teaching strategies used in universities in Zimbabwe. Contemporary literature abounds with studies that highlight challenges associated with access to education in universities, yet very little is highlighted about how TDE can be used to enhance access to education in Zimbabwean universities during the COVID-19 era and beyond. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate determinants of students’ behavioural intentions to persist with TDE in universities in Zimbabwe during COVID-19 and beyond. The study employed a quantitative approach that used a self-constructed structured questionnaire for data collection from a sample of 1,300 distance learning students selected from five universities using a stratified random sampling strategy. Structural equation modelling using IBM SPSS Amos 22 was used for data analysis. Results of the study show that cultural and norms issues (β = .325; p < .001) and characteristics of the students (β = .329; p < .001), the lecturer (β = .362; p < .001), the institution (β = .427; p < .001), and external stakeholders (β = .279; p < .001) were all significantly associated with the behavioural intentions of university students to persist with TDE. Results of this study have implications for both policy and practice with regard to implementing TDE in universities.

Insight into online teaching behaviour of lecturers in Zimbabwean universities during the COVID-19 era and beyond: issues and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Rudhumbu ◽  
Wilson Parawira ◽  
Crispen Bhukuvhani ◽  
Jacob Nezandoyi ◽  
Cuthbert Majoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
Teaching Behaviour ◽  
University Lecturers

PurposeThis study aims to establish the online teaching behaviour of university lecturers as well as examine issues and challenges for online teaching in universities in Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 era and beyond.Design/methodology/approachThe study assumed a quantitative approach that employed a structured questionnaire for data collection. Structural equation modelling using AMOS version 22 and independent samples t-test were used for data analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was used for data purification.FindingsThe results of the study showed that organisational factors, technological factors, pedagogical factors, student factors and the gender of lecturers have a significant influence on the behavioural intentions of lecturers to teach online. The results also showed that the behavioural intentions of lecturers to teach online has a significant influence on the actual online teaching behaviour of the lecturers. The results also showed that lecturers mostly used the WhatsApp platform for teaching. Issues and challenges affecting the online teaching behaviour of lecturers in universities in Zimbabwe were also identified.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study have implications for policy and practice with regard to online teaching and learning during periods of pandemics and beyond.Practical implicationsThe results showed that for effective teaching to be done in universities, universities should not continue focusing on single platforms such as blackboard, Moodle and others, but should allow for a multimedia approach that factors in platforms such as WhatsApp, Google Classroom and others. This will ensure that even universities with limited technology infrastructure will be able to have online teaching occurring.Social implicationsThe study demonstrated the influence of gender in online teaching by showing that there are gender differences in the way university lecturers conduct online teaching. This also has implication on teaching and policy as these results demonstrate a need for universities to come up with strategies and policies that ensure despite gender differences, university lecturers should be able to effective teach online.Originality/valueWhile the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology has been widely used in research, the current study represents the first opportunity that the theory has been used to establish the online teaching behaviour of university lecturers in the context of Zimbabwe.

Emerging Academic and Social Spaces

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-47
Author(s):  
Matthew Gordon Ray Courtney
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
University Students ◽  
Student Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
International Student ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Institutional Commitment ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Strategic Integration ◽  
University Lecturers

The number of international university students in Australasia is set to increase over the next five to ten years, making the integration of this group important to the region. Whilst university lecturers continue to play an important role in this process, much of university students' communicative behaviour with peers continues to shift more and more to social network sites (SNS), namely Facebook (FB). Using a large response-driven sample (N = 491) and structural equation modelling (SEM), this study presents a dual-path model of international student integration that illustrates two parallel processes to improved institutional commitment: (1) the staff-academic system, where staff's genuine concern for student development improves students' perceived academic progress, and commitment; and, (2) the student social-network-site system, where strategic integration of FB contributes to the on- and offline maintenance of close friends, and improves institutional commitment. The implications for policy and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Facebook or LMS in Distance Education? Why University Students Prefer to Interact in Facebook Groups

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-141
Author(s):  
Esteban Vázquez-Cano ◽  
Paz Díez-Arcón
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
University Students ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Teacher Control ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Faculty Of Education

This article describes an investigation into the level of satisfaction among students at Spain’s National Distance Education University (UNED) regarding use of Facebook groups as an environment for learning. Based on a structural equation methodology, the research analyzed the most relevant personal and socio-educational factors that affect satisfaction. The sample consisted of 418 undergraduate and master’s degree students at UNED’s Faculty of Education; participants were consulted in three semesters between September 2019 and January 2021. The results showed that students who participated in Facebook study groups achieved better results than those who did not, and that they interacted more frequently in these groups than in UNED’s official learning management system. The main latent variables that influenced satisfaction with Facebook study groups were the perception of efficacy they elicited as a complement to distance learning by enabling greater interaction with other students, and the feeling of course companionship they provided. The absence of teacher control also influenced student satisfaction, which allowed students to focus on learning and achieving better results in tests and exams.  

scholarly journals The Effect of Brand Credibility, Brand Image and Customer Satisfaction on Behavioural Intentions in Traditional Medicine Market

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4(S)) ◽  
pp. 15-25
Author(s):  
Peter Kwasi Oppong
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
Brand Credibility ◽  
The Impact

Brands with stronger image, credibility, and greater customer satisfaction engender favourable behavioural intentions, which serves as an essential competitive weapon in a market. The impact of brand image, credibility, and satisfaction on behavioural intentions are well-documented in the literature. There is, however, little or no research on the influence of credibility and image on behavioural intentions through the intervening role of satisfaction in the traditional medicine market. As a result, the research aimed to assess the intervening role of customer satisfaction in the effect of brand image and credibility on behavioural intentions in the traditional medicine market. Data were distributed to a sample of 265 customers via a systematic sampling strategy. The hypotheses formulated were tested by using covariance-based structural equation modelling. The research confirmed that satisfaction perfectly mediated the effect of credibility on customers’ behavioural intentions in the traditional medicine market. However, no mediational relationship between the brand image and behavioural intentions was established. Consequently, this study contributes to the brand theory by displaying the mediated role of customer satisfaction in the impact of brand credibility on the customers’ behavioural intentions, particularly in the traditional medicine market. As an emerging industry, this paper also advances the practitioners’ knowledge about how to build and manage credibility, satisfaction, and image to strengthen the customers’ behavioural intentions in the traditional medicine market.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Purchase Intention towards Smartphone Brand: A Study on Bangladeshi Private University Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Azmol Hossain ◽  
Zahidul Islam ◽  
Sardar Mohammad Tauhidul Islam ◽  
Mohitul Ameen Ahmed Mustafi
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Purchase Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Private University ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Product Features ◽  
The Right ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

In today’s technology based world, people are depending more and more on various technology devices. Smartphone is one of the most important devices people use mainly for communicating with others and some specific purposes. It is not an easy task to choose the right Smartphone for an individual’s needs when there are so many Smartphone brand available in the market. There are some critical factors affecting the individuals Smartphone purchase intention. This study aims to explore the factors that affect the purchase intention towards Smartphone brand. A structured questionnaire on 5-points Likert sclae was developed to collect data from 302 respondents who are studying in different private universities of Dhaka city in Bangladesh using convenient sampling method. Structural equation modeling was used to identify the significant factors affecting purchase intention towards Smartphone brand. Data was analyzed by using SmartPLS software. This study found that Price, Peer Influence and Product features are the factors highly significantly affect the purchase intention towards Smartphone Brand but not Brand Image. The findings of this research may help not only the private university students but also other consumers who intend to purchase Smartphone. Smartphone manufacturer also consider these factors for Bangladeshi market.

scholarly journals The effect of Self-Directed Learning on the relationship between Self-Leadership and Online Learning among university students in Turkey

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-165
Author(s):  
Mehmet Durnali
Keyword(s):  
Distance Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
University Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
University Education ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
The Relationship

More and more people across the world seek a university education. Therefore, universities offer full or partial distance undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to meet that demand. Distance education has become more widespread with advances in the Internet and computer technologies and online learning and teaching software (e.g., Learning Management Systems). The spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which broke out in early 2020, has also played a significant role in the increased popularity of distance education. Therefore, investigating and reporting upon university students’ self-leadership (SL) behaviors, self-directed learning (SDL) skills, and online learning (OL) attitudes in such learning environments is both timely and critical. This empirical study used a relational survey model to investigate SL, SDL, and OL among university students. The sample consisted of 835 students in Turkey. Data were collected using the “Self-Directed Learning Scale (SDLS),” “Revised Self-Leadership Questionnaire (RSLQ),” and “Online Learning Attitude Scale (OLAS).” Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson coefficient, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). SL was moderately and positively correlated with SDL and OL. SDL was moderately and positively correlated with OL. SDL played a fully mediating role in the relationship between SL and OL. SL predicted OL in both the indirect and total effect model. This study addressed university students’ perceptions and tested a model to provide empirical evidence for the relationships and predictions of SL, SDL, and OL. Therefore, it is believed that the results will help advance the constructs of SDL, SL, and OL paradigms. Received: 07 March 2020Accepted: 17 November 2020

Application Of Technology Acceptance Model Of Unified Payment Interface Services Adoption In Mysuru City: An Exploratory Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 25-35
Author(s):  
Vinay S
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Acceptance Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Continuous development of technological innovations especially in the banking sector have stirred competition which has changed the way businesses operate resulting in the introduction of Unified Interface Payment (UPI) services. This study was conducted in order to analyse the adoption of UPI services through Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in Mysuru. Objectives of study were framed to determine the demographic factors that influence the practices of UPI by the customers, to examine the role of banks in integrating UPI services and products and to assess the various security issues affecting the usage of UPI services by Mysuru customers. Based on these objectives a structured questionnaire was prepared and primary data was collected from 165 respondents. Data was analysed making use of SPSS and other models namely Structural Equation Modeling with Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) Software. Finally the researchers identifies that there is a need for convergence of customer’s preference for safe and easy banking transactions. This study revealed that the customer’s model have to be well integrated for progress in UPI operations.

ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION OF DISTANCE EDUCATION IN UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF AMAZONAS

2020 ◽  
pp. 37013-37019
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The State ◽  
University Education ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Education Students

No teaching method has evolved as much as distance education, in the state of Amazonas this would not be different, especially in higher education. Distance Education is a modality where the student is separated from the teacher and uses several communication technologies around all his learning. The methods used were bibliographic, documentary and quantitative. The researched environment was the capital city of Manaus and the municipality of Maués, with the application of the closed questionnaire aimed at higher education students. Our objective was to question certain nuances as their benefits and challenges for those who study Distance Education in the different locations of the State of Amazonas. The result was the realization that among its many advantages in the execution of education, time is considered the main one, and the loss of deadlines its greatest disadvantage, besides the concept of distance education is already well known by university students. Thus, it is well known that with the passing of time and with the progress of the state's modernization, distance education is gradually becoming the most practical means of teaching.

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