AN ASSESSMENT OF ACCEPTANCE AND PERCEIVED EASE OF USE OF VIRTUAL EXAMINATION SYSTEM AMONG OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNERS IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system in Nigerian tertiary institutions gained prominence after the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating virtual examinations. For this system to be efficient, it requires learner acceptance and a positive perception of ease of use. This study investigated learners' acceptance and perceived ease of use of virtual examinations in Nigerian ODL institutions. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with learners from universities offering ODL programmes forming the study population. Purposive sampling selected the only single-mode ODL institution in Abuja and the two oldest dual-mode ODL institutions from southern and northern Nigeria. The sample consisted of 829 learners from these universities. The study used the Learners’ Acceptance of the Virtual Examination System (LAVES) and the Perceived Ease of Use of the Virtual Examination System (PEOUVES) instruments, with reliability coefficients of 0.82 and 0.74, respectively, determined by the Cronbach Alpha test. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation statistics to answer two research questions. Findings revealed that most respondents perceived the virtual examination system as easy to use and opposed the exclusion of virtual examinations from ODL. It was recommended to encourage the virtual examination system in ODL.