Abstract:

Recent advances in technology development brought new opportunities for e-learning systems and platforms used for higher education purposes at universities. Some of the platforms used for e-learning are Merlin, Moodle and the Nikola Tesla Portal. E-learning offers a number of benefits such as time and cost savings, but in doing so the user needs a certain amount of previous knowledge and must have access to technology.

The research objective was to investigate students’ opinions about e-learning. As many as 167 university students from different areas reflected upon the statements offered in the Questionnaire about some e-learning variables: quality of information, system quality, quality of service, customer satisfaction, purpose of use and net benefits. A research model based on DeLone & McLean IS success model was chosen as the basis for the analysis. The quality of the model was checked by assessing the reliability and validity of the constructs. Six hypotheses were tested using partial least squares – structural equation modelling.

Regarding the quality of information, students believe that e-learning systems provide the required amount of reliable and timely information. Overall, students are satisfied with the quality of information in the e-learning system as it facilitates their education. A large number of students agree that accessing and using e-learning systems is simple and understandable and that a large amount of information can be accessed, but they also agree that it is not a sufficient source of information and that multiple learning sources need to be combined for them to successfully complete the courses and achieve the learning outcomes. Students are specifically satisfied with the quality of obtained information that facilitates new knowledge and skill development. They consider that university teachers are competent and possess adequate knowledge and skills for using e-learning systems. Their only objection is the speed of teachers' response and the fact that some teachers do not use e-learning systems. Students expressed a high degree of satisfaction in answering all the questions. Most students would recommend using e-learning systems to their colleagues, and they intend to use them in the near future. In examining net benefits, students responded positively to the claim that e-learning enables new competencies (knowledge, skills and attitudes), cost savings and faster access to information in one place, but to a lesser extent they agreed that e-learning shortens learning time.

This study confirmed the impact of information quality, system quality and service quality on user satisfaction, and the impact of user satisfaction on the purpose of its use and on the net benefits of e-learning. The survey results did not show a direct impact of information quality, system quality and service quality on the purpose of using e-learning systems and the effect of the purpose of their use on the net benefits of e-learning, but indirect effects were detected.

Keywords:

DeLone & McLean IS success model, e-learning systems, competencies development.