An investigation on the relationship between e-learning usability attributes towards motivation to learn

Abstract

This study was undertaken with the purpose to unfold and understand the relationship between e-learning usability attributes and motivation to learn. The conduct of this study was using quantitative approach. The largest distance learning provider in Malaysia namely Open University Malaysia was selected in the study. Preliminary studies involving interviews, observation and review of materials (the LMS itself) were undertaken to understand the phenomenon of motivation to learn in an e-learning environment, followed by a survey with the purpose of validating the developed theoretical model and testing the formulated hypotheses. Three groups of predictor namely technical usability, pedagogical usability and universal usability were hypothesised to be significantly related with motivation to learn. Five technical usability attributes were investigated being accessibility, consistency, ability to learn, navigation and visual design. Seven pedagogical usability attributes were examined being content and resources, interactivity, instructional assessment, instructional feedback, learners’ guidance and support, learning strategies design and multimedia use. Three universal usability attributes were explored being gap in learners’ knowledge, learner diversity and technology variety. Based on the analysis of 664 responses collected using stratified random sampling, it was discovered that all the conceptualized predictors, namely the e-learning usability attributes were indeed significantly related with motivation to learn. The major contribution of the study can be assessed from three perspectives, i.e. theoretical, methodological and practical. From the theoretical viewpoint, it has developed an empirical-based framework that represents the phenomenon of motivation to learn, its corresponding predictors and impacts in the context of Malaysia e-learning environment. From the methodological viewpoint, this research has developed instrument which can be further tested in other research settings. From the practical viewpoint, the developed instrument can be utilized to evaluate learner motivation to learn behaviour as well as their predictors and impacts. Despite its success in achieving its objectives, this study is subjects to several limitations being the number of variables investigated, chosen respondents and the perceptual measures. Future research should consider investigating other variable such as cultural and extend the coverage of respondents beyond the learners level to include the academic staffs as well.