Title: Blended learning in tertiary education: teachers' beliefs according to the technology acceptance model

Authors: María Cruz Sánchez-Gómez; Antonio Víctor Martín-García; Juanjo Mena

Addresses: Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Salamanca, Paseo Canalejas 169, Salamanca, Spain ' Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Salamanca, Paseo Canalejas 169, Salamanca, Spain ' Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Salamanca, Paseo Canalejas 169, Salamanca, Spain; Institute of Psychology and Education, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlevskaya, Kazan, Russia

Abstract: Blended learning (BL) is probably the most widely used approach in higher education, with characteristics that make it an excellent way to introduce a paradigm shift. This paper analyses the beliefs, expectations and attitudes of university teaching staff regarding the acceptance - and adoption - of BL methodologies from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. A mixed-method design (a sequential explanatory model) was used. Furthermore, a confirmatory factor analysis of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and a topic analysis were also carried out. A sample of 982 Spanish university lecturers participated in the study, with 86 taking part in the qualitative analysis. The results show that the variable intention essentially determines the lecturers' acceptance of the use of BL. Furthermore, a series of opinions (advantages and disadvantages), as well as these lecturers' main demands, are related to the implementation of BL. The positive aspects were practice-based cases, the improvement of digital skills, peer learning, and greater interaction. The negative ones were related to time and effort, little coordination among teachers, higher classroom ratios, and difficulties in tracking the submission of assignments.

Keywords: blended learning; mixed-methods; technology acceptance model; TAM; DEXPLIS; SEM model; tertiary education; teacher training; teacher development; teacher methodology; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2020.113883

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2020 Vol.15 No.4, pp.341 - 359

Published online: 31 Mar 2021 *

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