The Functionality and Interactivity of Video Conferencing Technologies: A Synchronous Technology Adoption Model

Abstract

In the past few years, educators started using synchronous video conferencing software like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams or Zoom, among others, in addition to traditional teaching methodologies. Therefore, this contribution examines the students’ perceptions about the functionality and interactivity features of these technologies, as well as the facilitating conditions of a higher education institution (HEI) in a Southern European context. A survey questionnaire integrated valid measures that were drawn from the relevant literature on technology adoption. The analysis was carried out through SmartPLS to shed light on the causal paths affecting the students’ intentions to continue using synchronous technologies in higher education. The results suggest that the students feel that the functionality of the conferencing software in terms of their ease-to-use and efficient designs, as well as their HEI's facilitating conditions, including the technical support they are given, and their accessibility to adequate resources, are affecting their intentions to continue using these interactive technologies, to achieve their learning outcomes.