Contemporary distance higher education is hinged on modern technologies to deliver purely online and blended modes of learning mostly through learning management system (LMS). This is to bridge the transactional gap between students and instructors as well as among students themselves. However, the use of technologies such as LMS for dispensing distance tertiary education is at a cross-road of mandatoriness or voluntariness of use. Nonetheless, current literature supports the voluntary use of LMS by instructors in order to foster positive attitudes and personalization among instructors. Based on this, there is the need to unravel the determining facts that promote voluntary usage of LMS among tutors. This study thus, employs a quantitative approach based on a survey design to purposively collect data from 267 tutors in a blended distance education setting using a questionnaire. Generalized structural component analysis technique was adopted for structural equation modelling. Results from a structural equation modelling revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and social influence, all determine tutors' voluntariness of use of LMS for blended learning in distance education. Additionally, voluntariness of use predicted actual LMS use behavior among tutors. On the basis of the results, recommendations were made to reflect theory, policy and practice of voluntary integration of LMS by tutors for blended learning in distance education.

Within the academic landscape, distance education is progressively gaining global attention and recognition, and many institutions are committing resources to make it a success. Global enrollments show a steady increase in distance learning. However, the availability of support services and students’ technological competence are critical to the success of distance education. One of the important support systems for maintaining effective online education is libraries and information services. As a result, this study investigated the acceptance of e-library and support services. The study was led by the UTUAT model and its accompanying theories, such as the innovation diffusion theory and the theory of planned behaviour. The census technique was used to sample 2003 graduate distance students. The data was examined using multivariate structural equation modeling approach. The study found a negative association between strategic and operational skills and students’ intents to use the e-library and support services. However, students’ inclination to use the e-library and support services was found to be strongly predicted by social influence. The study concludes by underlining the necessity for distance education institutions to host courses that increase students’ operational and strategic skills so that they can properly utilise e-library services.

Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) is a mode of teaching usually triggered by disasters and pandemics such as the deadly Coronavirus. This study used a self-reported questionnaire to investigate student perceptions, challenges, and coping strategies during ERT at a public university in Ghana. Using a randomly selected sample of 80 students, the study established the relationships between student perceptions and coping strategies, perceptions, and challenges. Out of the 80 respondents, 76 questionnaires were duly completed and were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The bootstrapping results indicate that student perceptions of ERT have a significantly positive relationship with their coping strategies, and the challenges have a significant negative relationship with coping strategies. However, student perceptions did not significantly correlate with students’ challenges. Results recommend that the university put appropriate measures in place to reduce the challenges associated with ERT, which will improve students’ perceptions since the pandemic is still raging with a series of waves. Challenges such as lack of access to digital devices and high-speed internet should also be addressed urgently.

This study sought to find out how previous technology use experience, technology self-efficacy, and use behavior relate among themselves towards learning management system (LMS) technology uptake. This is because LMS has been adopted by higher educational institutions during both the COVID-19 lockdown and post-COVID-19 era. Nonetheless, evidence shows lack of training of tutors in utilizing the LMS technology for pedagogical purposes during the emergency remote learning paradigm. Owing to that, most tutors relied on their previous technology use experiences to cultivate a self-belief towards the actual use behavior of leaning management system for their teaching and learning. Consequently, a quantitative approach based on a survey design was adopted, and questionnaire used to collect data from a purposive sample of 267 tutors in a traditional face-to-face distance setting. Results from a partial least squares structural equation modelling approach proved a positive statistically significant effect of both previous technology use experience and technology self-efficacy on LMS use behavior. Additionally, previous technology use experience positively determined technology self-efficacy with the latter having a significant indirect and mediation effect on the former towards LMS use behavior. The results of this study provided insights into the tripartite relationships existing among these three important variables. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to higher educational institutions towards the adoption of LMSs by tutors.

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