Student acceptance of virtual laboratory and practical work: An extension of the technology acceptance model

The development of Internet technologies and new ways of sharing information has facilitated the emergence of a variety of elearning scenarios. However, in technological areas such as engineering, where students must carry out hands-on exercises and laboratory work essential for their learning, it i...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Estriégana Valdehita, Rosa María|||0000-0002-1345-5165, Medina Merodio, José Amelio|||0000-0003-3359-4952, Barchino Plata, Roberto|||0000-0002-5657-5191
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Recursos:Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Repositorio:e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ebuah.uah.es:10017/59977
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10017/59977
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.02.010
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Virtual laboratories
Online practical work
Simulations
Online learning environments
Technology acceptance model
Informática
Computer science
Descrição
Resumo:The development of Internet technologies and new ways of sharing information has facilitated the emergence of a variety of elearning scenarios. However, in technological areas such as engineering, where students must carry out hands-on exercises and laboratory work essential for their learning, it is not so easy to design online environments for practicals. The aim of this experimental study was to examine students' acceptance of technology and the process of adopting an online learning environment incorporating web-based resources, such as virtual laboratories, interactive activities, and educational videos, and a game-based learning methodology. To this end, their responses to an online questionnaire (n?=?223) were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study was based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), but included and assessed other factors such as perceived efficiency, playfulness, and satisfaction, which are not explained by the TAM. Our results confirm that this extension of the TAM provides a useful theoretical model to help understand and explain users' acceptance of an online learning environment incorporating virtual laboratory and practical work. Our results also indicate that efficiency, playfulness, and students' degree of satisfaction are factors that positively influence the original TAM variables and students' acceptance of this technology. Here, we also discuss the significant theoretical and spractical implications for educational use of these web-based resources.