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Students’ acceptance of file sharing systems as a tool for sharing course materials: The case of Google Drive

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Abstract

Students’ perceptions about both ease of use and usefulness are fundamental factors in determining their acceptance and successful use of technology in higher education. File sharing systems are one of these technologies and can be used to manage and deliver course materials and coordinate virtual teams. The aim of this study is to explore how Google Drive is accepted as a system for handling course materials and uncover the factors that influence and contribute to students’ intentions to use it. The research approach is based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The participants for this study comprised 119 students at Sultan Qaboos University. The Students’ Acceptance of Google Drive Questionnaire was develop by the author based on the TAM. The results indicated that students perceived Google Drive as an easy-to-use and useful system for storing and sharing course materials, and they favored its use in university teaching. The results of a multiple regression analysis confirmed that students’ prior experience with Google Drive is a good predictor of students’ perceived ease of use and usefulness. In addition, perceived ease of use and usefulness significantly influenced attitudes toward the system and behavioral intentions to use Google Drive.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. South Valley University, Qena, Egypt

    Alaa Sadik

  2. Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Alaa Sadik

Authors
  1. Alaa Sadik
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alaa Sadik.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

1.1 Students’ acceptance of Google Drive questionnaire (SAGD)

  1. 1.

    Demographics and experience (EXP = 4)

    1. 1.1.

      How frequently do you use the Internet?

      - Very infrequently - Somewhat infrequently - Occasionally - Somewhat frequently - Very frequently

    2. 1.2.

      What is your preferred way for sharing course materials with classmates?

      - File sharing systems - LMS - E-mail - Social networks - Other

    3. 1.3.

      What is your preferred file sharing system?

      - Google Drive - Dropbox - FileCloud - SQU Drive - Other

    4. 1.4.

      How frequently do you use Google drive?

      - Never - Rarely - Sometimes - Often - Very Often

  2. 2.

    Perceived ease of use (EOU = 8)

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

  1. 2.1.

    Often I become confused when I use Google Drive.

  2. 2.2.

    Using Google Drive is often frustrating.

  3. 2.3.

    It takes a long time to learn how to perform a task with Google Drive.

  4. 2.4.

    Often I need to consult the course instructor or my classmates when I use Google Drive.

  5. 2.5.

    I find it easy to do my assignments via Google drive.

  6. 2.6.

    Using Google drive, I can complete and submit my assignment quickly.

  7. 2.7.

    Google drive is simple.

  8. 2.8.

    Overall, I find Google Drive easy to use.

  9. 3.

    Perceived usefulness (USF = 8)

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

  1. 3.1.

    Studying this course would be difficult without using Google Drive.

  2. 3.2.

    Google Drive gives me greater control over sharing course materials.

  3. 3.3.

    Using Google Drive saves my time.

  4. 3.4.

    Google Drive enables me to access course materials more quickly.

  5. 3.5.

    Google Drive increases my productivity.

  6. 3.6.

    Using Google drive increases the quality of my work.

  7. 3.7.

    Instructors should use Google drive in their courses

  8. 3.8.

    Overall, using Google Drive is useful for sharing course materials.

  9. 4.

    Attitude (ATT = 4)

All things considered, using Google Drive in my study is:

  1. 4.1.

    Good/bad idea

  2. 4.2.

    Wise/foolish idea

  3. 4.3.

    Favorable/unfavorable idea

  4. 4.4.

    Positive/negative idea

  5. 5.

    Behavioral intention to use (BIU = 4)

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

  1. 5.1.

    I will continue using Google Drive in other courses in the future.

  2. 5.2.

    I will frequently use Google Drive to perform my study-related Internet tasks.

  3. 5.3.

    I will strongly recommend Google Drive to my students.

  4. 5.4.

    I will use Google Drive many ways in my life.

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Sadik, A. Students’ acceptance of file sharing systems as a tool for sharing course materials: The case of Google Drive. Educ Inf Technol 22, 2455–2470 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-016-9556-z

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