Acceptance of Smartphone as a Mobile Learning tool among the Students of Engineering in New Zealand

Abstract

Smartphones today are ubiquitous and are influencing our everyday life and have unsettled many age-old tasks, activities, devices, gadgets, tools and technologies with their redefined usage and definitions. They have relatively strong computing capability built into small sizes, their connectivity and are equipped with intuitive operating systems, smart sensors and applications. They have become excellent contrivance as an instant learning content provider, prompt and handy communicator, productivity agent and a multipurpose device. The understanding of parameters which govern their customised and personalised integration is the key to a successful acceptance and assimilation of this device as a learning tool. Technology acceptance models are used in studies aimed at predicting and explaining the user’s behaviours towards the acceptance and usage of new technologies. This research reports the findings which focused on analysing the acceptance of smartphones as learning tools for the College of Engineering students at a major university in New Zealand. This study was guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model.