International Journal of
Information and Education Technology

Abstract

This study explored the effectiveness of using mobile devices in the learning of hospitality subjects. Four hundred and thirty-seven (437) high school students in a hospitality program in Taiwan participated in this survey and the revised technology acceptance model (TAM) was adopted as the major research instrument. Seven research hypotheses were posited. The results of statistical analysis indicated that participants regarded perceived ease of use (PEU) as being more important than perceived usefulness (PU) when M-Learning (a combination of mobile device and e-learning) is designed to be integrated in teaching and learning hospitality subjects. Five of the seven research hypotheses were supported by the structural equation model (SEM). Specifically, this study found that the genre of courses (academic course and practical course) did not significantly lead to either PEU or PU but it resulted significantly in participants’ having different behavioral intention to use (IU) M-Learning. Moreover, PEU as well as PU were significantly related to IU. Counterintuitively, IU has a significantly negative effect on the effectiveness of self-learning.