User perceptions of smart class services in teaching and learning interactions

Abstract

Smart Class services have been touted as a promising tool to enhance teaching and learning interactions. Initiatives on education reformation and relevant information technology deployment have been carried out by universities worldwide. However, previous studies often overlook the user perceptions on such applications which may lead to uncertainties or failures in the implementation of Smart Class services as users may not always accept or adopt such technologies. This study examines student perceptions about the use of Smart Class services from various perspectives. Ten variables adapted from previously validated measurement scales were selected. They are enjoyment, perceived interaction, subjective norm, privacy concern, computer anxiety, self-efficacy, facilitating conditions, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitude. A total of 335 students from local universities were recruited and returned 282 valid observations for data analysis. Our results showed that, regardless of the concerns on personal privacy and the relatively low ratings on enjoyment and subjective norm, Smart Class services appear to be a feasible tool for university students. Further research is needed to analyze the correlations among the examined variables and their quantitative effects on users’ technology acceptance behaviors.