An activity-theoretical approach to investigate learners' factors toward e-learning systems

The Internet and World Wide Web have provided opportunities of developing e-learning systems. The development of e-learning systems has started a revolution for instructional content delivering, learning activities, and social communication. Based on activity theory, the purpose of this research is to investigate learners' attitude factors toward e-learning systems. A total 168 participants were asked to answer a questionnaire. After factor analysis, learners' attitudes can be grouped four different factors-e-learning as a learner autonomy environment, e-learning as a problem-solving environment, e-learning as a multimedia learning environment, and teachers as assisted tutors in e-learning. In addition, this research approves that activity theory is an appropriate theory for understanding e-learning systems. Furthermore, this study also provides evidence that e-learning as a problem-solving environment can be positively influenced by three other factors. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.