Emerald | Campus-Wide Information Systems

Knowledge Sharing and Educational Technology Acceptance in Online Academic Communities of Practice

Nicolae Nistor, Beate Baltes, Monika Schustek — 2012-03-23 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - Online educational programs rely on the use of educational technology for knowledge sharing in academic virtual communities of practice (vCoP). This poses the question, which factors influence technology acceptance. Previous research insufficiently investigates the interrelationship between educational technology acceptance (ETA) and the vCoP context. Therefore, the paper at hand proposes a conceptual model of ETA in the vCoP frame.Design/methodology/approach - To validate the proposed model, a correlation study was conducted in an academic vCoP at a German university. A sample of N = 72 faculty members was surveyed regarding attitudes and perceptions towards knowledge sharing in vCoP.Findings - A regression analysis confirms the expected correlation between technology use intention and corresponding behavior. Further, participation in vCoP influences technology use intention, and, in turn, is influenced by participants’ technology related expertise.Research limitations/implications - Against expectations, participants’ attitudes towards technology are weakly correlated with most model variables, thus, warranting further research.Practical implications - Virtual mentoring in online universities can be supported relying on central vCoP participants, who may be helpful initiators of knowledge sharing.Originality/value - The proposed conceptual model enlarges the scientific understanding of technology-enhanced learning in vCoP and suggests practical ways of supporting between scholars and students in the frame of vCoP at online universities.

Information and Communication Technology Workforce Employability in Malaysia

Mohd Adam Suhaimi, Muhammad Rabiul Hasan, Husnayati Hussin, Asadullah Shah — 2012-03-23 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - The purposes of the study are to understand the ICT workforce employability in Malaysia and to identify the causes that influence the growth of skill gaps among ICT workforce and find out the ways of reducing the gaps.Design/methodology/approach - The methodology of the study comprised of project reports and literature review.Findings - The findings show that not only in Malaysia but also in Australia and India are facing the challenges of demand-supply gap of quality ICT related workforce. The study also indicates that these countries do have similar obstacles and issue of sufficiently trained and experienced ICT graduates. Practical implications - This study suggest that in the light of demanded skills by the industries and organizations, ICT workers may be trained through updated course curriculum in line with the needs of industry. Originality/value - It has been discussed in many papers on the employability of workforce in general. This paper specifically discusses on the employability issues of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) workforce, and provides values to the ICT educators, employers and as well as potential ICT graduates.

Making learning and web 2.0 technologies work for higher learning institutions in Africa

Edda Tandi Lwoga — 2012-03-23 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This paper seeks to assess the extent to which the learning and web 2.0 technologies are utilized to support learning and teaching in Africa’s higher learning institutions, with a specific focus on Tanzania's public universities. Design/methodology/approach - A combination of "content analysis" and "semi-structured interviews" was used to collect data. The study conducted semi-structured interviews with ICT personnel from six out of the eight public universities in Tanzania in 2011. Findings - The study found that the adoption of e-learning and web 2.0 technologies is still in its infancy stages in the Tanzania public universities. However, there was much enthusiasm amongst respondents for developing the potential of e-learning and web 2.0 tools in their universities. Practical implications - The study seeks to promote an academic inquiry about the need for innovative web 2.0 technologies in learning and teaching and the adoption of these emerging technologies in African’s higher learning institutionsOriginality/value - The study provides empirical findings on the use e-learning and web 2.0 for higher education, specifically in the Tanzanian context. The study provides a basis for further research on the use of Web 2.0 technologies in higher education.

Exploring the adoption of a virtual reality simulation: The role of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and personal innovativeness

Mary Helen Fagan, Carol Kilmon, Vivek Pandey — 2012-03-23 00:00:00.0

Abstract

Purpose - This study explored students’ perceptions of a virtual reality simulation that enabled nursing students learn how to use a medical emergency crash cart. Design/methodology/approach - The study was designed to explore how student’s perceptions of ease of use and perceived usefulness from the Technology Acceptance Model and the student’s personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology explained their intentions to use the simulation. Six hypotheses were tested with a survey administered to 158 undergraduate nursing students at a midsized southwestern university in the United States. Findings - Data analysis based upon a structural equation modeling technique found support for all three research hypotheses based upon the Technology Acceptance Model. Data analysis also found support for all three hypotheses drawn from the literature on personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology. Overall, the study’s research model explained about 65% of the variance in intention to use the virtual reality simulation (R2 = 0.65). Research limitations/implications - This study suggests that future research should take into account the impact of an individual characteristic, personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology, in order to better predict users’ intention to adopt an information technology innovation. Originality/value - This study extends the knowledge of technology acceptance of a virtual reality simulation by incorporating the concept of personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology into the Technology Acceptance Model.