Factors influencing students’ intention to use Blackboard Learning Management System at Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban.

Abstract

The implementation and use of the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) varies from institution to institution in the South African higher education landscape. This variation is caused by the individual organizational culture and the different communities that they serve. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are also likely to change from one LMS to another. Different institutions also have different reasons for using LMS. This study explores the factors that most influence Business Information System 2 (BIS2) students’ behavioural intention to use the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS) at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). Blackboard LMS is not the first LMS to be used at MUT; previously WebCT was used. In their first year BIS2 students used Blackboard LMS for assessment purposes only. A year later, they were introduced to other Blackboard LMS tools, including information announcements, course calendars and access to learning materials. No research that has been conducted in order to understand BIS2 students’ perception of Blackboard LMS at MUT. The study will therefore contribute to the body of knowledge by filling a gap in understading the factors that influence behavioural intention to use Blackboard LMS. It will further contribute to the implementation and development of e-learning at MUT and assist lectures who intend to use Blackboard LMS for their courses to devise good strategies for using Blackboard. Additionally, lecturers who are already using the system may review their strategies in view of the findings of the study. The findings may also motivate other lecturers to make use of the Blackboard LMS for their courses. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Task Technology Fit (TTF) models underpin the study and form its conceptual framework. The methodology for the study involved self-administered questionnaires, the sample of respondents being 109 BIS2 students from the Department of Accounting at MUT. The findings from the study reveal that performance expectancy (PE), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and social influence (SI) all have a positive significant effect on behavioural intention (BI) to use while SI was found to be the strongest predictor.