A Brazilian Initiative Toward Digital Literacy: Evaluating the Impact of Motivational Factors on the Intention to Use a Distance Learning Platform

The research focuses on human interactions with the technology and contributes to understanding the adoption and utilization of specific technology, making this topic relevant to the field of digital humanities, which explores the impact of technology on humanities research and teaching. This study uses the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to investigate a Virtual Learning Environment. The motivational factors studied were Perceived Enjoyment, Perceived Usefulness, and Perceived Ease-of-Use. The study shows how these factors impact the Intention-to-Use a Virtual Learning Environment. The population studied was high-school students from Rio de Janeiro. The research used a multimethod approach with a transformative strategy. In order to deepen the results, a quantitative phase with a survey followed a qualitative phase with a case study. The case study depicted the context of the phenomenon, and the survey verified the causal relationships among the factors raised in literature. The data analysis used structural equation modeling based on partial least squares (PLS) adjustment. The Intention-to-Use factor presented low variance and high average in the sample used. This result explains the students’ participation in the course. The certificate offers a professionalization possibility. The Intention-to-Use showed a strong influence on Real Use. The study confirmed the direct effect of Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Enjoyment on the Intention-to-Use. The Perceived Usefulness factor revealed the highest impact on technology acceptance as occurred in previous studies with adults. The indirect influences were also compatible with previous studies. The Ease-of-Use factor did not show direct influence over the Intention-to-Use. Nevertheless, the Ease-of-Use factor indirectly influenced the Intention-to-Use through the Perceived Usefulness factor. The research results allow a better uptake of technology acceptance by teenagers. The outcomes inspire strategies formulation to decrease evasion and increase enrollment of new students in Virtual Learning Environments.