Exploring and facilitating learning management system adoption

Abstract

The implementation of learning technologies across organisation is rarely uniform despite apparent equity in access to training and support. The research aims to explore the origins of differential adoption in the context of the introduction of a learning management system. Three exploratory studies are described, conducted as parts of a longitudinal insider action research project. The first draws on one of the authors‘ reflective journal that transcends the introduction, launch, and implementation of a pan-university Learning Management System. The second analyses focus group data, firstly, from technology staff supporting the adoption process and, secondly, from teaching staff who adopted the new system. The third reviews training feedback questionnaires filled out by teaching staff who attended training sessions. By triangulating data from three approaches, we provide insights into the antecedent attitudes and capacities which shape the adoption of learning technologies by academic teaching staff. The implications for supporting learning technology adoption is outlined.