Investigating Lifelong Learners' Continuing Learning Intention Moderated by Affective Support in Online Learning

During the pandemic crises, online learning has moved from the margin to the centre of education, thus making a change in the educational paradigm. The degrees of technology acceptance, therefore, pose a major challenge to administrators, educators, and students, including lifelong learners from all fields of work. This paper aims to investigate how technology acceptance facilitates lifelong learners' continuing learning intention. By constructing a structural equation model based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) theory and verifying the mediating role of learning satisfaction and the moderating role of affective support empirically, this study addresses the online learning characteristics in terms of self-efficacy, satisfaction, and willingness to learn in the context of lifelong learners. Data were collected from the questionnaires embedded in the courses at a distance teaching university. A total of 513 questionnaires have been retrieved and 488 valid questionnaires have been processed and analysed via SPSS 26.0 and Amos 24.0. The findings indicate that positive relationships and positive correlations between learning satisfaction and continuing learning intention juxtapose, and satisfaction is positively correlated with continuing intention. Moreover, affective support moderates the three components significantly. The results of this research help expand the applicability of the TAM theory with more practical significance, conveying positive messages to the administrators, educators and lifelong learners in continuance of online learning, and thus maintaining retention, particularly in the post-pandemic new normal for the sustainability of higher education.

Automated summary

During the pandemic, online learning has become central in education, changing the educational paradigm. The level of technology acceptance presents a challenge for administrators, educators, and students, including lifelong learners. This study investigates how technology acceptance impacts continuing learning intention for lifelong learners, using a structural equation model based on the Technology Acceptance Model theory. The findings suggest positive relationships between learning satisfaction and continuing learning intention, with satisfaction positively correlated with continuing intention. Additionally, affective support plays a significant moderating role. The results expand the applicability of the TAM theory and provide valuable insights for administrators, educators, and lifelong learners in sustaining online learning in the post-pandemic new normal.