The Role of Technology Continuance Theory in Willingness to Continue Online Learning Among Fisheries and Aquaculture Students During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Higher education institutions have been forced to close campuses and shift towards online learning to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Although the curriculum requires laboratory sessions, fisheries and aquaculture students from a public university in Malaysia shifted their training online, a completely different and unexpected scenario. Due to the virus's rapid spread, the online sessions were not properly prepared by the university but still needs to be performed for the students. As the pandemic forces higher institutions to continue with online learning, understanding the factors influencing students' willingness to continue online learning is crucial for both parties. The study adopted the Technology Continuance Theory and used a purposive sampling method, gathering 294 respondents from the online survey. The study also examined the online learning service quality, conformation, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, satisfaction, attitude, performance and fisheries and aquaculture students’ willingness to continue using online learning during the pandemic. Moreover, the study extended the predictive power by introducing the serial mediation of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, performance and satisfaction. Using SmartPLS, the results revealed that all of the hypotheses were supported. Ultimately, the findings provided essential information to understand further the student’s willingness to continue online learning during the pandemic. Furthermore, the results help the top management craft a better strategy and policy on online learning and develop a proper plan to allow students to return to campus life.