Factors Affecting Student’s Perceived Readiness on Abrupt Distance Learning Adoption: Indonesian Higher-Education Perspectives

Abstract

Widespread lockdowns across the globe during Covid-19 outbreak forced the universities to abruptly adopt full-online distance learning. Such unprecedented abrupt adoption requires a degree of student readiness to ensure the success of distance learning delivery. However, prior research about student readiness of e-Learning adoption is still limited to discussing proactive adoption in normal conditions. To address this issue, this study investigated the factors that affect the student’s perceived readiness for abrupt distance learning adoption. By applying Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using the Partial Least Square algorithm, this study found that self-competence, comfort with e-Learning, uncertainty avoidance, financial ability, and technological facilitating conditions are factors that significantly affect student’s perceived readiness. Based on this finding, faculties are recommended to be an early adopter of e-Learning, to provide an e-Learning platform with excellent usability and effective instructional design for the students, to provide clear instructions for both students and instructors, and to provide needed resources (e.g. internet connection) to the students. Moreover, future studies could be focused on lecturers’ or faculties’ readiness for abrupt distance learning adoption.