Factors influencing the diffusion of learning management systems by instructors in higher education

Among the numerous diffusion studies conducted in recent years, the survey of Learning Management System (LMS) use in Africa conducted in 2008 by United Nations, Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), highlighted the rather low use of formal Learning Management Systems (LMSs) in universities, colleges and schools across much of the African continent. Consequently, since the problem of technology rejection and underutilization is common, the purpose of this study was to empirically test a dynamic, more complete, and parsimonious technology acceptance model (DTAM) that institutions of higher education can use in the deployment of LMS to increase the adoption and diffusion of these technologies by university instructors for teaching and learning.The study used a cross-sectional survey questionnaire distributed to a sample of 109 university instructors distributed in 16 universities in Kenya. The result showed that perceived resources, availability of ICTs, university leadership, perceived ease of use (PEOU), and LMS relevance are among the top five dominant characteristics that significantly and directly impacted instructors’ intention to use and actual usage of LMS. DTAM was empirically proved to be stable by a number model statistical indices including Normed Chi-Square= 1.073, GFI=0.908, RMSEA=0.026,, IFI=0.963, TLI=0.948, and CFI=0.95.4