Structural Equation Modelling of Factors Influencing Users‘ Adoption of Smart Board: A South African University Perspective

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have grown rapidly, becoming an integral part of today’s society and affecting how daily activities are conducted worldwide. They have transformed the education landscape and today’s classrooms have evolved from traditional blackboards to whiteboards and then to smart boards. The smart board technology (SBT) is considered one of the innovative teaching and learning technologies for different levels in education. However, the challenge is the low adoption of the SBT in teaching and learning environments by educators, particularly in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting the adoption of smart board technology. Using an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, a quantitative, cross-sectional survey was utilised to gather data from 224 academics from a South African university. Findings revealed that the adoption of smart board technology at the university is low and smart board features are inadequately used. Additionally, results showed that social influence and attitude toward using technology were significantly the key factors affecting users’ intentions to adopt smart boards. Facilitating conditions had a very strong statistically significant effect on users’ behaviour to use smart boards.