Extending the UTAUT Model of Tencent Meeting for Online Courses by Including Community of Inquiry and Collaborative Learning Constructs

Abstract

Synchronous videoconferencing has been chosen as a platform for conducting online courses after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, its acceptance has yet to be explored from interactive and cognitive aspects. This study aims to investigate factors influencing students’ acceptance of the online learning platform- Tencent Meeting/VooV Meeting, extending the UTAUT model by adding community of inquiry and collaborative learning constructs as external factors. A total of 1058 participants’ responses were collected in the autumn semester of 2022, and the survey results were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results show that most of the influencing factors proposed in the extending UTAUT model apply to Tencent Meeting. Specifically, performance expectancy, social influence, and cognitive presence can positively and significantly predict behavioral intention in using Tencent Meeting for online courses at the 0.001 level. Facilitating conditions and behavioral intention are both determinants of usage behavior. Teaching presence and collaborative learning can positively predict cognitive presence, which is the most influential factor of behavioral intention, indicating that collaborative learning and cognitive presence should be vital considerations in promoting the usage of online learning platforms. The present study expands upon our comprehension of the determinants that impact the utilization of Tencent Meeting, thereby offering recommendations for the development of online platforms according to the cognitive and interactive necessities of students. Instructors may contemplate the creation of online exercises that necessitate higher levels of collaboration to enhance student engagement and encourage cognitive presence, addressing students’ cognitive developmental demands in a supportive manner. This study is limited to the number of selected variables used to explicate the adoption of Tencent Meeting by users with the aid of UTAUT and the community of inquiry framework. It is anticipated that subsequent research may expand upon the array of variables under consideration, such as task-technology fit, usage habits, and information technology competence. The respondents surveyed primarily comprised individuals affiliated with Chinese language universities, with an imbalanced gender distribution, and an over-representation of liberal arts majors. Thus, the generalizability of the research could be impeded. Therefore, to augment the external validity of the study, future research may collect data from various educational levels and cultural backgrounds to corroborate the research outcomes.

Keywords:

• Synchronous videoconferencing
• online courses
• Tencent Meeting
• community of inquiry
• collaborative learning

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, professor Zhonggen Yu, who has offered me valuable suggestions on academic writing. He has spent much time reading each draft and giving me inspiring advice during the writing process. He has also given me much advice on research methods, which is of great value to my academic research. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my professor Han Yi, who has provided me with great suggestions for writing improvement and inspiration. I am also obliged to other professors and friends who have offered me generous help during the data collection procedure. I am also grateful to all the faculty and staff members in the College of Foreign Languages who have provided me with a lot of help and guidance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the 2019 MOOC of Beijing Language and Culture University (MOOC201902) (Important) “Introduction to Linguistics” [MOOC201902]; “Introduction to Linguistics” of online and offline mixed courses in Beijing Language and Culture University in 2020; Special fund of Beijing Co-construction Project-Research and reform of the “Undergraduate Teaching Reform and Innovation Project” of Beijing higher education in 2020-innovative “multilingual +” excellent talent training system [202010032003]; The research project of Graduate Students of Beijing Language and Culture University “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” [SJTS202108].

Notes on contributors

Ruobing Qin

Ruobing Qin majoring in Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, is presently a graduate student in the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Beijing Language and Culture University. She has participated in graduate scientific research projects. Her research interest includes educational technologies, foreign language teaching, and language acquisition.

Zhonggen Yu

Zhonggen Yu Professor (distinguished), and PhD Supervisor in the Department of English Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Beijing Language and Culture University, has already published over 120 academic papers in distinguished journals. His research interest includes educational technologies, language attrition, and language acquisition.