Factors influencing students' adoption of e-learning during COVID19 pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out factors influencing students' adoption of E-learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Specifically, age, gender. E-learning gadget, monthly income as factors that influence E-learning adoption were investigated. Primary data involving both qualitative and quantitative data were collected using a 16-item questionnaire from 120 students who had enrolled in various courses at SSP and analysis was done using frequency distribution tables, cross tabulation, Pearson chi square test for independence and logistic regression.

From the results, over half of the students (60.9%) were males and (39.1%) were females. Findings from the bivariate analysis showed that age, monthly income and gadget used were all associated with adoption of E-learning (p<0.05). However, monthly income and gadget used were significant at the multivariate level. The findings of this study revealed that students who were aged 26 and above (1.05) were significantly associated with increased chances of adopting e-learning compared to those who were less than 25 years. The study also revealed that students who possessed E-learning gadgets (5.20) were significantly associated with higher chances of adopting E-learning.

It was concluded that the factors that positively influence students' adoption of E-learning included: age of the student, sex, possession of E-learning gadgets and monthly income. Therefore, there is a need for subsidization of E-learning gadgets by the government to enable students to access gadgets at reduced prices, training of lecturers and students on Elearning platforms, more ICT tools should be provided to higher institutions, motivation, and rewarding lecturers to use E-learning and integrating the ICT strategy into the institutions' overall strategies.