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Students’ intentions to use PBWorks: a factor-based PLS-SEM approach

Eddie W.L. Cheng (Department of Social Sciences, Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong)
Samuel K.W. Chu (Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong)
Carol S.M. Ma (Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong)

Information and Learning Sciences

ISSN: 2398-5348

Article publication date: 18 June 2019

Issue publication date: 6 September 2019

505

Abstract

Purpose

Wikis, as one of the Web 2.0 tools, has been increasingly used to engage students to learn with others in a collaborative virtual environment. However, there are relatively few studies examining the application of wikis in secondary schools. Therefore, this study aims to investigate factors affecting the use of PBWorks (a popular wiki tool).

Design/methodology/approach

The aim was achieved by empirically examining an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) from a sample of 429 junior secondary students in Hong Kong. Specifically, relationships among six latent variables, which were school support, teacher support, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitudes towards use and the intention to use, were posited in the model. The more robust factor-based partial least squares structural equation modelling (factor-based PLS-SEM) was used to test the research model.

Findings

The results indicated that most of the hypotheses were supported, which suggested that the extended TAM could explain the rationale behind students’ intentions to use PBWorks for group projects.

Originality/value

This paper extended the original TAM by including two additional variables (school support and teacher support) for explaining behavioural intentions. Because of the increased use of e-learning platforms in secondary schools, more understanding of what motivates secondary school students’ e-learning intentions is necessary.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the General Research Fund of the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR Government (grant number: HKU 743510H). The authors would like to thank the reviewers for their constructive comments on a previous version of the paper.

Citation

Cheng, E.W.L., Chu, S.K.W. and Ma, C.S.M. (2019), "Students’ intentions to use PBWorks: a factor-based PLS-SEM approach", Information and Learning Sciences, Vol. 120 No. 7/8, pp. 489-504. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-05-2018-0043

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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