Title: Extending the technology acceptance model to understand the use of e-learning during COVID-19 pandemic for enhancing learning process: Iraqi universities' students

Authors: Suad Shatti Azeez; Salih Hajem Glood; Mohammad Kasib Layous Alhasnawi

Addresses: IT Department, Ministry of Education, H.8, Zuona, 00964, Baghdad, Iraq ' College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Thi-Qar, Our8, Nasiria, 00964, Thi-Qar, Iraq ' Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, 16 Platz St., Darling Heights, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia; Faculty of Administration and Economics, University of Sumer, Thi-Qar, Iraq

Abstract: Although the influencing factors on the use of e-learning (EL) were examined in previous studies, the physical characteristics of the educational environment and their impact on the use of EL during the COVID-19 pandemic are still to be investigated. Therefore, to bridge this gap, this study adapted TAM as a theoretical model and extended it by adding learning content; and lighting and noise as environmental variables. This study aims to investigate the effecting factors of EL on Iraqi universities during outbreaks of COVID-19. Moreover, the study used an online questionnaire of 455 students of the southern region universities in Iraq and Smart-PLS technique for data analysis. The findings revealed the relationships amongst the core constructs of TAM supported; learning content has a positive effect on perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness; moderating effect of environmental factors on the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention behaviour was supported. The implication is that the decision-makers of EL should focus on factors that play an influential role in promoting students' use of EL.

Keywords: COVID-19; e-learning; electronic learning; higher education; technology acceptance model; TAM; Iraqi universities; Smart-PLS technique; educational environment; use of e-learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2023.131311

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2023 Vol.18 No.1, pp.44 - 78

Received: 05 Nov 2021
Received in revised form: 15 Apr 2022
Accepted: 22 Jul 2022
Published online: 06 Jun 2023 *