Much of the research on OER and its use or non-use in K-12 classrooms has focused on the barriers to implementation. As my research question revolves around how OER can provide resources to teachers, it is important for me to understand strategies to increase OER usage as well as to remove barriers; essentially, what do teachers need to use OER successfully?
A theoretical framework that I have come across that aligns with this topic and my focus is the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The TAM explores the relationship between perceived usefulness (the users’ perception of how the technology will improve performance), perceived ease of use (how easy it is to use), and behavioural intention (attitude toward behaviour) and how these aspects affect the use of technology (Marikyan & Papagiannidis, 2023a). An increase in both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use has a positive effect on the usage and acceptance of the technology (Burgess & Worthington, 2021). The TAM has undergone some changes, resulting in the TAM2, which contains several additional characteristics, as well as the TAM 3, providing even more detailed aspects (Marikyan & Papagiannidis, 2023).
For my research, I believe that simplicity is best, meaning that the original TAM would suffice; however, the TAM 3 incorporates significant aspects such as experience, computer anxiety, and objective usability that may prove more useful in my research.
A final theoretical theory that aligns with my focus is the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). This theory states that the use of technology is tied to behavioural intention and is dependent on performance expectancy (how the technology will help with job performance), effort expectancy (how easy it is to use), social influence (how the user perceives the perceptions of others when using the technology), and facilitating conditions (how will the users organization support them with the technology); these are also moderated by age, gender, experience, and “voluntariness of use” (Marikyan & Papagiannidis, 2023b).
I look forward to receiving feedback about which theory would be best suited to my topic and focus.
References
Burgess, G. L., & Worthington, A. K. (2021). Technology acceptance model. In A. K. Worthington (Ed.), Persuasion theory in action: An open educational resource. https://ua.pressbooks.pub/persuasiontheoryinaction/chapter/technology-acceptance-model/
Marikyan, D., & Papagiannidis, S. (2023a). Technology Acceptance Model. In S. Papagiannidis (Ed.), Theoryhub – Academic theories reviews for research. https://open.ncl.ac.uk
Marikyan, D., & Papagiannidis, S. (2023b). Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. In S. Papagiannidis (Ed.), Theoryhub – Academic theories reviews for research. https://open.ncl.ac.uk
Great work on this Terry. I really like both ideas that you’ve laid out – TAM (and potentially TAM3) and UTAUT. If you went with TAM (any of the versions) it still means that you can explore how things like experience or anxiety might be taken into consideration. Remember that choosing a theoretical framework (TF) means that you’re in agreement with what it says, that you’re not trying to prove/disprove an aspect and that your research sort of moves forward from that theory. If you go with UTAUT, similarly, you’re looking more at the idea that …. given that these things are important, my research looks at HOW they might be taken into consideration or incorporated into the development of OER. So, I think either will work. If you went with TAM then you could include UTAUT as part of the literature review for the proposal and expand on it a bit, outline any gaps in the research around it and show it’s connection with your work if that made sense. Either I think will work well for you.
Thank you, Deb. Your comment about not trying to prove/disprove a theory is what I will be keeping in mind. I also appreciate that I can use both, and perhaps expand on UTAUT in my lit review.
I’m really looking forward to reading more of you research in this area, Terry. In the K-12 space, are OERs openly accepted as curriculum and teaching tools? I have yet to see anyone in my post-secondary context making use of (or contributing to) anything “open.”