Factors Affecting E-learning Services Adoption and Utilization by Instructors and Students at Mzumbe University in Tanzania

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting e-learning services adoption and utilization by instructors and students at Mzumbe University in Morogoro, Tanzania .The study employed exploratory sequential mixed approach in which qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. In detail, qualitative approaches were applied to explore the availability and status of e-learning services at the university while quantitative approaches were applied to determine instructor’s and student’s attitudes towards e-learning services available and the factors affecting instructor’s and student’s attitudes towards e-learning services at the university. Data collection tools employed in this study were in-depth interviews and documentary review for qualitative data and questionnaires for quantitative data. Content analysis and descriptive statistics were employed to analyze qualitative data and quantitative data respectively to generate the results. Findings revealed that the university has adopted e-learning system whereby online learning, online library, online registration, online examination results and online time table access services were available at the university nevertheless most students had negative attitudes towards available e-learning services which stemmed from the lack of basic ICT skills among students, insufficient e-learning infrastructure, high internet cost and lack of reliable internet service at the university. Moreover, the study found that poor technical support and resistance to culture change were also the factors affecting effective utilization of e-learning at the university. Unlike many students, instructors had positive attitudes towards available e-learning services at the university regardless of existing challenges. Instructor’s attitudes were attributed by their academic maturity; desire to learn the technology and existing university laws and regulations which coerce instructors to use the technology. The study recommend for the improvement of e-learning infrastructure in learning institutions and also revise e-learning policies for students in order to attract more users.

Keywords: E-learning, adoption, utilisation, attitude, Mzumbe.

JEL Classification: 1