Students’ Continuance Intention to Experience Virtual and Remote Labs in Engineering and Scientific Education

Authors

  • Muhua Zhang College of computer and information technology, China Three Gorges University, No.8 Daxue road, Xiling District, Yichang city, Hubei province, China The zip code:443002
  • Yanyan Li School of Educational Technology, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China The zip code:100875

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i17.10799

Keywords:

Virtual and remote labs (VRLs), Expectation-Confirmation Model (ECM), Flow, Continuance Intention, Quantitative research

Abstract


Virtual and Remote Labs (VRLs) had been widely used in Engineering and Scientific Education in recent years. The purpose of this study was to explore the students’ satisfaction of VRLs and their continuance intention to experience VRLs in future study. The VRL developed by Unity3D PRO was integrated into an undergraduate course named “Introduction to computer science”. 240 college students from China Three Gorges University took the course and had the virtual and remote laboratory experience for 16 weeks. Students’ satisfaction and continuance intention were investigated by a three-part questionnaire based on the Expectation-Confirmation Model and Flow Theory. SPSS 19.0 was used for the quantitative analysis. The results indicated that the flow experience of students in VRL was at general level while the female students’ perception of flow was higher than the males. Correlation analysis found that the flow experience had an extremely significant correlation with the students’ perceived usefulness, confirmation, satisfaction and continuous intention. Stepwise regression analysis found that flow experience, perceived usefulness and satisfaction were all positive predictor of the students’ continuance intention. Finally, some suggestions for integrating VRLs in engineering and scientific education were provided.

Author Biographies

Muhua Zhang, College of computer and information technology, China Three Gorges University, No.8 Daxue road, Xiling District, Yichang city, Hubei province, China The zip code:443002

College of computer and information technology Lecture

Yanyan Li, School of Educational Technology, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China The zip code:100875

Center for Knowledge Engineering School of Educational Technology Beijing Normal University Professor

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Published

2019-09-16

How to Cite

Zhang, M., & Li, Y. (2019). Students’ Continuance Intention to Experience Virtual and Remote Labs in Engineering and Scientific Education. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 14(17), pp. 4–16. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v14i17.10799

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Papers