Faculty e-Learning Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Shaqra University

Abstract

e-Learning can generally be applied by employing learning management system (LMS) platforms designed to support an instructor to develop, manage, and provide online courses to learners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several LMS platforms were adopted in Saudi Arabian institutions, such as Moodle and Blackboard. However, in order to adopt e-learning and operate LMS platforms, there is a need to investigate factors that influence the capability of faculty to utilize e-learning and its perceived benefits on students. This paper examines how training support and LMS readiness factors influence the capability of faculty to adopt e-learning and student perceived benefits. A quantitative research method was conducted using an online questionnaire survey method. Research data was collected from 274 faculty members, who used Moodle as a main LMS platform, at Shaqra University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The results reveal that training support and LMS readiness have a positive influence on the faculty’s capability to adopt elearning, which leads to enhancing students’ perceived benefits. By identifying the factors that influence e-learning adoption, universities can provide enhanced e-learning services to students and support faculty through providing adequate training and powerful e-learning platform.