Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The Relationship Between Acceptance, Actual Use of a Virtual Learning Environment and Performance: An Ecological Approach

  • Published:
Journal of Computers in Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is regularly used to investigate students’ acceptance of virtual learning environments and the impact on students’ intention to use. Past TAM studies barely investigated students’ actual use of virtual learning environments, neither how actual use relates to their performance in an ecological valid educational context. In this study, a Moodle-based virtual learning environment regarding teaching a foreign language is studied in a teacher education context. The instructional design is based on the four-component instructional design model (4C/ID model). We measured the students’ acceptance of the virtual learning environment using the perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use scales of TAM. Log data were analysed to detect students’ actual use, and a pretest and posttest was used to assess students’ performance. Structural equation modelling (N = 191) reveals that PU has a significant influence on actual use of the virtual learning environment, and that actual use of the virtual learning environment positively influences students’ performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charlotte Larmuseau.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Larmuseau, C., Evens, M., Elen, J. et al. The Relationship Between Acceptance, Actual Use of a Virtual Learning Environment and Performance: An Ecological Approach. J. Comput. Educ. 5, 95–111 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-018-0098-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-018-0098-9

Keywords

Navigation