Generation Z and E-Learning: COVID-19, Personality, and Technology Acceptance

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected schools, with traditional in-person operation changing to remote online learning. The rapid, involuntary shift was met with resistance and acceptance in varying degrees by Generation Z students. This study seeks to develop an e-learning technology acceptance model for Generation Z students, with a focus on the environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic. A theoretical framework based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was extended by 8 factors based on literature review and student input from a prior focus group study and survey (Motamedi et. al., 2021). The survey had 3 parts: 1) background information, 2) personality traits, 3) acceptance model factors. Twenty responses were collected and analyzed using Cronbach’s alphas. The results found the survey items to have good internal consistency. The outcome of this study provides a baseline for future studies to validate the model. The framework provides understanding of Generation Z acceptance of e-learning.