Improving the accessibility of digital content via mobile technology. A case study of Mount Kenya University
Abstract
Globally, Higher Education Institutions (HEI) have embraced the use of mobile technology in the delivery of instructional resources which has promised multiple benefits in digital or blended learning, HEIs are facing the challenge of high internet tariffs. The current study sought to improve the accessibility of digital content via mobile technology within limited Internet connectivity contexts. The study used a quantitative research approach within which a descriptive survey research design was adopted. The case study was Mount Kenya University in Kenya. The study was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The target population was 15123 individuals comprising of 15,000 students and 123 were educators/ ICT staff who accessed digital content in the academic year 2018/2019. The mobile-based model used a WIFI router device which is not internet supported as an alternative to a wired internet connection where students and educators access digital content from the mobile sub-server which was not connected to the internet through their mobile technology. The findings showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between internet connectivity, type of mobile technology, user literacy, data caching, and eLearning policy had a significant effect on the accessibility of digital content. The variables were statistically significant. The adjusted R squared was 0.862 indicating that 86.2 percent of the total variation of accessibility of digital content can be explained by Internet connectivity, e-learning policy, type of mobile technology, data caching, and user literacy. The study then went ahead to develop a mobile-based e-learning model. The findings showed that the use of mobile-based e-learning (m-learning) in universities will greatly improve access to digital content and hence e-learning. The study recommends the use of m-learning as it will provide alternative means of optimizing Internet connectivity.
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References
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