Factors affecting students’ intention to use m-learning: Extending the technology acceptance model (TAM)

ABSTRACT

This study set out to determine what variables led students to choose mobile learning during COVID-19 and to study the direct impact of the perceived fear of COVID-19 (PCF) on undergraduate learners’ intentions to adopt m-learning in developing countries such as Sudan. It utilizes the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a foundation and uses PCF as an undependable variable. The surveys were given out to Sudanese undergraduate students. The SPSS and SmartPLS software were utilised for data analysis. The findings revealed that PCF affects both perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) positively. PEOU and PU influence intention to use (INT) positively. The research findings will help decision-makers, developers of m-learning applications, and researchers promote the acceptance of m-learning. This study contributes to the field of knowledge by extending TAM and adding a new factor, PCF, in order to understand Sudanese students’ intention to use m-learning.

KEYWORDS:

• TAM
• COVID-19 pandemic
• mobile learning
• perceived fear

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mohammed A. E. Suliman

Mohammed A. E. Suliman is a PhD student at Shaanxi Normal University. His research interests include understanding and exploring determinants influencing the adoption of online learning, online assessments, ways to improve online learning, and ways to encourage students to adopt this type of learning.

Wenlan Zhang

Zhang Wenlan an honored researcher and instructor at Shaanxi Normal University, has 60+ publications in Blended Learning, New Technology, and Learning Psychology. She led 20+ funded research projects by the Chinese Ministry of Education, IT companies, and schools. Recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education and Shaanxi provincial government for educational contributions

Kamal Abubker Abrahim Sleiman

Kamal Abubker Abrahim Sleiman is an associate professor. Lecturer and researcher of online marketing at Yan’an University. His work centres on digital wallets, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, and network clusters. He is an early-career researcher and co-author of articles published and under review in Sage Open, Huminities and Social Sciences, and Heliyon.