Abstract:

The Learning Management Systems (LMS) usage has been developed over the years to justify its application at the academic institutions. Through these spaces, the interest of students in learning and the faculty in teaching, using online technology is evidenced. This element is essential in the development of the teaching and learning process.

This study seeks to know the intention of acceptance and use of LMS Moodle considering the performance expectancy (utility), expectation of effort (ease of use), social influence (teachers / students) and facilitating conditions (support technology) using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model of Venkatesh et al (2003) at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). Also, the moderating variables effect (gender, age, and experience) will be seen. The objectives of this research are: 1) Predict the acceptance of learning management systems used by teachers and students in higher education in Puerto Rico; 2) Determine the relationship between the use and acceptance of online technology-assisted teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic period; 3) Identify which of the factors is the strongest determinant in the acceptance of distance education at the UPR in Carolina and Humacao; 4) Identify which of the factors are more influential among teachers and students; and 5) Determine the relationship between the four main constructs of UTAUT and the variables of age, gender and experience.

The Spanish version of the UTAUT questionnaire by Venkatesh et al. (2003) translated by Madera et al. (2012) was used and includes two parts: a) demographic data and information related to the experience and knowledge of the learning management system; b) 31 questions with a 7-point Likert scale focused on collecting data on the intention and acceptance of technology. The population under study was composed of professors and undergraduate students from the Carolina and Humacao UPR Campuses. The sample consisted of 606 participants in university courses assisted with LMS Moodle and under the hybrid or distance modality. The data analysis used in the study was descriptive statistics using SPSS version 27 and a multivariate analysis with the partial least squares (PLS) regression technique using SmartPLS3.

The research results show the viability to apply the UTAUT model to the acceptance of LMS in Puerto Rico. The study found that three of the main constructs (performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions) of the theory have a direct, positive and significant effect on user intention and acceptance of LMS. The results show that the effect of effort expectancy on the intention was not significant. The findings suggest that performance expectancy has the most weight amongst all constructs. The results of the research will serve to recommend future research on the subject and facilitate strategies to offer technology-assisted education online.

Keywords:

LMS, Pandemic, technology, higher education, university, Puerto Rico, Humacao, Carolina, UTAUT, emergency, Moodle and Covid-19.