Examining Differences of Users' Perceptions of Multimedia Content Types in a National Online Learning System.

This study investigates students' perceptions of four different multimedia types (animation, video, plain drill, and game types) in a national online learning system (i.e., Cyber Home Learning System). A total of 324 students from 3rd to 6th grades who were actually using the system participated in this study. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and satisfaction were collected. The analysis of the relationships between the three perceptions and the participants' actual time to use the system confirmed that the perceptions were significant factors contributing to the actual use. So, three comparisons of the three perceptions were conducted in terms of grade levels, multimedia content types, and gender. The findings indicated that some perceptions of multimedia content types differed by grade levels and gender. More specifically, lower grade students were more favorable to multimedia contents, and all graders were not satisfied with video type. Male students had more positive perceptions toward video, plain drill, and game types of multimedia content than fizmale students. This study provides practical implications to designing multimedia content when considering grade level and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]