Abstract:

The success of an e-learning system, to a large extent, depends on the acceptance and use by students. After reviewing technology adoption models: Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Three-Level Model of Technology Use (3-TUM), Task-Technique Adjustment Model (TTF), Model Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it was decided to apply the TAM2 to predict the level of acceptance and use of an e-learning system in students of an Ecuadorian university. TAM2 was chosen because it is one of the most used frames in the reviewed literature, but without evidence of application in the Ecuadorian context. Data were collected from 400 students. The reliability and validity analyses were performed satisfactorily. A structural equations model (SEM) was tested by using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach. The results indicate that TAM fulfils all its hypotheses in the Ecuadorian context when evaluating the acceptance and use of an e-learning system among students. It is concluded that the perceived ease of use has a great influence on perceived utility and that the model has a predictive relevance, these results are in agreement with data found in other studies. For the statistical treatment, the Smart PLS software was used.

Keywords:

Information systems, technology acceptance model, structural equation modelling, PLS.