E-Learning platform usage by students in institutions of higher learning.

Students' numbers participating actively on the e-learning KNG platform, enrolling for studies and completing the PGD ICT Policy & Regulation programme has been reducing since 2004 (Nettel Africa Academic Board reports 2005, 2006 & 2007). This could be attributed to perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioural intention to use the KNG nettel platform. The Technology Acceptance model (TAM) was employed to obtain the impact of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioural intention to use on KNG Platform Usage. Using A crosssectional and correlation designs findings indicated that 48% of the system usage was predicted by perceived ease of use perceived usefulness and behavioural intention to use. There was a significant positive relationt 0.562 Tw ( prr ease) Tj 3.276 Tw ( oe) Tj 336ioural usefu Tj05.276 Tw ( of) Tj 48365 Tw ( use) 33 1 0 0 1u( of) Tj 48365 Tw 42perceive65 Tj 2.774 Tw ( usefu T24s) Tj 3.026 Tw ( There5j 121.407 Tw ( was) j 48365 Tw ( a) Tj T24s) Tj 3ae and software), the Internet, and greater digital speeds that increase customer contact and profitability. Universities are leveraging advances in computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools for course delivery to enhance existing courses as well as full degree programes. Adoption of these technologies should not be made simply because competing institutions have adopted similar technologies. Rather, knowing the customers or student's perception and behavioul intention to use technology should be key in the decision-making process. On-line learning with Knowledge for next Generation platform is a major component of technology that is mature and more accessible to a wider range of people in industry. Students of PGD ICT Policy and Regulation at 11 Universities in Africa under the umbrella of Nettel Africa including MUBS and Makerere University have been given lectures on KNG platform since 2004. Course materials and assignments are uploaded on the platform for students use. Lecturers conduct on-line lectures, chats, discussions with students in all the 10 modules of the PGD ICT Policy and Regulation programme. Africa and Uganda in particular has typically low available Internet bandwidth by international standards, due to its exorbitant costs. Initial investigations show that the benefits of having free access to an Internet-based KNG platform and datasets are offset by very slow student access and by certain limitations in the version of the product offered. The user acceptance and adoption of IT strongly impacts many different sectors of the economy. According to Pervan and Schaper (2004), the user acceptance of IT will become progressively more significant as IT continues to play a major role in the global economy. Many organizations continue to invest large amounts of financial resources in new IT, and determining the potential user acceptance of these new information technologies is important in assessing the success of these investments (Chau, 1996). If the new IT is accepted and adopted by users, the chances of the system and investments being a success greatly increases (Behrens, Jamieson, Jones & Cranston, 2005). Extensive research has been conducted to understand the user acceptance of IT (Taylor & Todd, 1995b; Venkatesh & Davis, 2000). Taylor and Todd (1995b, pi45) state that "understanding the determinants of information technology usage should help to ensure effective