Pathways to Resilient and Sustainable Online Education in the New Normal: Interpreting University Teachers’ Willingness to Use Online Teaching Platforms Consistently

Zijian Zhang, Yinghao Lin (), Xiaoyuan Wang and Xin Zhang
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Zijian Zhang: School of Design, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China
Yinghao Lin: Department of Global Convergence, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Xiaoyuan Wang: School of Design, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China
Xin Zhang: School of Design, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-20

Abstract: In the new normal, online education has become a norm and is considered equally important as traditional face-to-face education. Although online teaching has improved accessibility, reduced management costs, and expanded educational opportunities, there are also some issues, such as whether technology and internet access are widespread and whether the quality of online education is better or worse compared to previous modes. With the rapid development of online education, it is crucial to investigate the key factors influencing university teachers’ continuous usage of online teaching platforms and their working mechanisms, which is of great significance for improving the level of educational informatization and promoting educational modernization. This study mainly explores the continuous usage intention of online teaching platforms by Chinese university teachers under the new normal and its influencing factors, aiming to provide theoretical support and practical insights for improving educational informatization, promoting educational modernization, and designing and optimizing online teaching platforms. This study builds a new theoretical framework based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), UTAUT model, and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). From April to November 2024, 343 questionnaires were collected from Chinese university teachers. Combining structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), the key factors influencing teachers’ continuous usage of online platforms and their configuration relationships are systematically discussed. Not only are the key factors verified, but the configuration relationships are also revealed, providing deeper insights for universities to design, promote, and optimize online teaching platforms and offering theoretical support and practical guidance for promoting sustainable educational development.

Keywords: new normal; online teaching platforms; willingness to continue use; university teachers; SEM model; fsQCA model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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