Evaluating Students' Acceptance and Use of Tablet PCs in Collegiate Classrooms

Instructional technology can enhance the learning process for post secondary students. Colleges and universities have adopted computing initiatives that require every student to acquire their own portable computing device. Yet for such initiatives to improve students’ learning and teaching effectiveness, such technology-based initiatives must be accepted by students and faculty alike. This research evaluates students’ acceptance of Tablet PC (TPC) as a mean to forecast, explain, and improve usage pattern of TPC in education. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, a primary implication of this research is that while students may think favorably of TPC and thus intends to continue to use the technology, this does not necessarily explain actual use of TPC specific features. Universities wishing to ensure that students leverage the full feature set of TPC may have to further facilitate and support the use of TPC specific features.