Abstract:

Learning management systems (LMS) are becoming an essential part of the educational process. The adoption of LMS is addressing multiple flows of the traditional education system. LMS became a crucial part of any educational process during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, as the circumstances made it unsafe to continue with the traditional face-to-face educational process. LMS made it possible for many students to carry on with their studies being far away from a university. At the same time, the introduction of LMS can also pose additional challenges for students from various backgrounds. There are wide masses of people without access to modern technologies, who will be excluded from the educational process without the right approach to the LMS adoption. Another concerning issue is that users of a system must pose necessary computer skills and knowledge to be comfortable using LMS.

Thus, this paper attempts to highlight the challenges of adoption, usage and integration of LMS at South African learning institutions. It is important to understand these challenges as unadvised adoption of such systems can lead to exclusion of groups of students from the educational process. The present paper reveals and analyses such challenges.

To address these questions, the research has put forth the following objectives:
• To review users’ opinion on the current state of LMS at their educational institution
• To identify LMS features users use and require
• To determine a range of factors impacting students’ ability to successfully adopt LMS in their learning

The research is based on a quantitative and deductive approach. In order to achieve the goal of this paper a questionnaire in digital format was distributed among the LMS stakeholders. The target population of the research consists of students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. As a sampling technique, accidental sampling is used. Everybody completed the survey voluntarily. The sample size was 85 students as the saturation point was reached. To analyse data collected, a statistical analysis was used.

The research showed that many students experience several issues with LMS. Even though, majority of the students, participated in the research, possessed necessary computer skills to successfully utilise LMS in their studies, they faced the South African reality of the lack of internet access and access to technology. Besides that, many students believe that existing LMS are too complicated and not user-friendly. They struggle to find necessary information about their course, as well as inability to participate in the collaborative learning. Another aspect the students pointed out was the infrastructural problems of LMS. It is not unheard that an LMS is down at the crucial time.

Keywords:

Higher education, e-learning, online learning, learning management systems, lms.