Behavioral Intention towards using M-Learning among Higher Educational Students in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The proliferation and popularity of mobile phone usage in Sri Lanka has created an untapped potential for educators and organizations. The very recent introduction of mobile learning to the higher education sector of the country is set to exploit much of this opportunity, but there remains some doubt on readiness of students towards this revolutionary distance learning method. This research was focused on increasing the knowledge for the education sector towards understanding of students' intention in accepting and adopting into M-learning as many of the benefits of M-learning has not yet been fully realized in Sri Lanka. Also, the study was also conducted with a view of identifying the factors affecting behavioral intention of higher educational students in Sri Lanka towards M-learning. Based on prior studies, related theories and frameworks four variables were identified in order to assess the behavioral intention of students towards and M-learning system and those were: attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and perceived risk. The research approach of the study was deductive discipline and primary data were gathered from a self-administered questionnaire. The relationship between each independent and dependent variables were examined along with the hypotheses developed. The sample size was 200 students who represented four public universities and four other higher educational institutes in Sri Lanka. The results revealed that there were positive relationships between attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention while perceived risk demonstrated a negative relationship with the behavioral intention. The study has discussed the findings followed by both descriptive and inferential statistics and based on the findings it is possible to provide recommendations in favor of implementing M-learning systems within the higher educational sector in Sri Lanka.