Abstract:

Online and distance education or e-learning has been identified as an adaptive method that utilizes Internet as a base, allowing students to assimilate study topics with their own pace. This contrasts with the traditional learning method where magisterial class teaching requires students to be physically present. However, this traditional method may be too inflexible in terms of both economy and practicability, as the student-per-class ratio increases while many part-time or full-time job holders want to be enrolled in undergraduate as well as graduate degrees.
One of the true advantages using interactive media in learning and teaching is that we can access information from any computers that may not necessarily connected to the University network. It refers to “distant learning” between students and instructors who may not have any physical contact. Computers with Internet connection serves as a communication channel. With this channel, instructors can develop participative courses in which students must complete a series of practices and exercises. A lack of physical proximity between individuals (i.e., instructors and students) is not an obstacle because there is always an immediate and efficient dialogue.
To date, research on e-learning centers on the highly industrialized nations, leaving other regions of the world underexplored. This study attempts to fill in this research gap by examining the e-learning adoption by a Brazilian university. As a theoretical base, we adapt decomposed theory of planned behavior that incorporates interactivity as an additional insight. An empirical survey is conducted with 434 faculty members. The findings suggest that self-efficacy, peer recommendation and interactivity are primary causes of intention to use e-learning.

Keywords:

Brazil, Causal model, e-learning, Faculty management, Higher education, Internal marketing, Theory of planned behavior.