Perceptions of Learners of a Learning Management System to Support Teaching and Learning Using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory

Online learning is one of the ways in which the Internet can be used as a learning tool which can provide support to educators in a classroom. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of a Learning Management System LMS to support teaching and learning in a Grade 10 Information Technology (IT) class. The emphasis was on the attitudes and experiences of learners in relation to implementation of the LMS as a teaching and learning tool in the classroom. This study employed a mixed-methods approach (a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches). The quantitative approach included an attitudinal survey in the form of a questionnaire which used Likert scales to assess responses to various statements. The qualitative approach concerned itself with production of in-depth data. Focus group interviews were conducted with Grade 10 IT learners. These instruments generated data that were used to answer the main research question: What are learners’ experiences and attitudes when using a LMS? In terms of analysis of the data thematic analysis was used, with texts representing qualitative data and tables and statistics representing quantitative data. In order to discuss the findings the characteristics (attributes) of an innovation, as explained in the Diffusion of Innovations Theory were used. The research findings indicated that the learners had a positive attitude towards the use of the LMS to support teaching and learning and they were keen for it to be implemented in other subjects. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n8p37