E-Learning is another way of teaching and learning. In its broadest definition, e-Learning includes instruction delivered via all electronic media including the Internet, intranets, extranets, satellite broadcasts, audio/video tape, interactive TV, and CD-ROM. E-learning is a networked phenomenon allowing for instant revisions and distribution, and goes beyond training and instruction to the delivery of information and tools to improve performance. The benefits of e-learning are many, including cost-effectiveness, enhanced responsiveness to change, consistency, timely content, flexible accessibility, and providing customer value. The proponents of e-learning stress the importance of using communities of interest to support and enhance the learning process. They also emphasizes that people learn more effectively when they interact and are involved with other people participating in similar endeavors.
Although the role of e-learning in higher education has significantly increased, the resistance to new technology by professors and lecturers in university and colleges worldwide remains high. The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of attitude toward e-learning class in major universities. A survey methodology was used to investigate a proposed model of influence. The model was tested using responses from 180 professors from several universities. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the results.
The hypothesized model was largely supported by this analysis, and the overall results indicate that attitude toward e-learning systems is mostly influenced by the Level of Comfort, and the Efforts and Technical Support influence the Ease of Use. Attitude, Ease of use as well as the expected level of Educational Effect, in turn, influence perceptions of the Usefulness of e-learning system. As in other TAM related research, the Ease of Use and Usefulness contribute to the future use of e-learning system. This study might provide a robust set of scales which are designed to be easily generalizable to other settings such as K-12 educational systems.