Assessing postgraduates’ acceptance and usage of a learning management system

Abstract

The study examines the acceptance and the usage of a new learning management system (LMS) among postgraduates of a public university in Malaysia. A quantitative method was employed in which a questionnaire was used to collect the data. Two hundred and ninety-seven samples of students were randomly selected from nine hundred and twenty-one students. A statistical package for social science version 22 and descriptive statistics were used to determine the acceptance and extent to which students are intended to use the LMS. The descriptive statistics revealed that students are willing to use the new LMS in their educational activities. They were able to download and access the lecture notes through the LMS as well as upload and submit their assignments using LMS. In addition, the findings revealed that students enjoyed using LMS and it fitted their learning styles. However, students believed that if the university’s internet connection could be upgraded, students could have had a more enjoyable experience in using the new LMS. The findings might be useful for LMS managers, faculty members, and university management, to understand the level at which students accept and utilize the new LMS. This would also help the university authority to upgrade and improve the compatibility of the system and develop appropriate policies and strategies to encourage long-term usage of the LMS. Having limited and few studies of a newly implemented LMS, this study could identify not only the extent to which students are accepted and use the new LMS but also reveal that students’ perception of performance expectancy is critical for acceptance and usage the new LMS.