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The Effects of Cloud Computing In Education to Determine Its Usefulness by IT
Professionals
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Course
Submission Due Date
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Introduction
Cloud computing has proved to be a revolution in several fields, including but not limited
to the education industry, because of its factor, adaptability and cost advantage in data, software,
and computing storage. The discussion in this essay is intended to explore the impact of cloud
computing on education about its perceived usefulness by IT professionals. The Technology
Acceptance Model (TAM) shall be utilized to assess this. This methodological approach is in
tune with project questions, which analyze the readiness of cloud computing in educational
processes as perceived by executors of these systems. The discussion will also include the target
population and the sample properties to justify the research's applicability and accuracy.
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)
The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is a widely recognized model that can be
used to explain how users end up accepting and using a technology. Initially developed by Fred
Davis in 1989, TAM brought out that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are the two
critical factors that play a significant role in technology acceptance (Davis, 2019). This model is
appropriate for this project since it assists in determining factors that may affect the likelihood of
IT professionals adopting cloud computing in an educational setting. Since TAM focuses on
perceived ease of use and usefulness, it provides a good understanding of the perceptions and
behaviour of IT professionals regarding cloud computing. TAM will be relevant for this project
because the research questions are focused on the optimality and acceptance of cloud computing
in education. This model focuses on users' perception, which is very critical because the success
of cloud computing in education relies squarely on its positive reception and effective use among
IT professionals. Compared to other models, such as the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use
of Technology (UTAUT), TAM is relatively simple and more conveniently applicable in specific
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contexts. Moreover, it has been wisely applied to similar studies many times; thus, it provides
robust data collection and analysis techniques.
Methodological Approach
The methodological approach of using TAM aligns well with the project's topic, problem,
supporting evidence, and data sources. It recognizes that at the centre of the effectiveness of
cloud computing in education is the perception of its usefulness and ease of use. This approach
will ensure that the data collected is relevant to answering the research questions, as IT
professionals' attitudes and intentions toward cloud computing are measured directly
(Marangunić & Granić, 2018). Another alternative methodology initially considered was the
Diffusion of Innovations theory, which analyzes the adoption of innovations over time in a social
system. However, TAM has been selected instead of DOI because it offers a more focused
analysis on individual acceptance and usage of technology. This is critical to understanding the
factors that influence IT professionals to adopt cloud computing in education.
Using TAM will result in data collection directly related to IT professionals' perceptions,
facilitating a clear understanding of the factors that promote or hinder the adoption of cloud
computing. A significant source of information is a survey and interviews among IT
professionals to gain quantitative and qualitative insights into their experiences and attitudes
(King & He, 2021). The advantages associated with TAM include simplicity, focus on user
perception, and reliability, which have already been established in technology adoption studies.
However, this model's limitation is that it cannot capture broader organizational or social factors
influencing technology adoption. Considering these limitations, TAM is still helpful for this
project because it only looks at the attitudes and acceptance of users.
Population and Samples
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The target population for this study comprises IT professionals working in educational
institutions. This population is targeted because these subjects are directly responsible for
implementing and managing cloud computing solutions within educational environments. The
size of this population shall be dependent upon the institutions used. However, it will strive to
include as many different types of professionals from different educational levels and parts of the
country as possible. This is in direct line with the research questions. Hence, IT professionals are
required because their perceptions and experiences will determine the effectiveness and adoption
of cloud computing in education. The possible vulnerabilities in this population include potential
variations in levels of experience and expertise related to cloud computing that might impact
their responses (Al-Sharafi et al., 2021). Mitigating this fact involves including different
categories of IT professionals to have people with varying degrees of experience. In this way,
there will be comprehensive understanding and insight.
Potential barriers to reaching and engaging with this population include time constraints
and varying willingness to participate in the study. To address these barriers, the research tool
will include flexible data collection measures such as online questionnaires and virtual
interviews to suit participants' time and preferences (Klein & Myers, 2021). The general
population of the study will involve IT professionals working in any educational institution. In
contrast, the target population will be all IT professionals who have accepted the role of
participating in this study. Information concerning the target population's size, description, and
demographics will be recorded to provide a clear presentation of information on the sample used
in undertaking this research. The setting or site will entail various educational institutions to
ensure the sample is representative.
Conclusion
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This discussion has outlined the effects of cloud computing in education and perceived
usefulness, as perceived by IT professionals, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as
the methodological framework. The TAM method would be appropriate for this study since it
deals directly with perceived ease of use and usefulness related to the research questions. The
target population of IT professionals within the educational setting provided relevant insight into
the factors influencing cloud computing adoption. Thus, applying TAM in this research would
help develop a complete understanding of the challenges and effectiveness of cloud computing in
education, thereby adding to the broad literature about technology integration in an educational
setting.
References
Al-Sharafi, M. A., AlAjmi, Q., Al-Emran, M., Qasem, Y. A., & Aldheleai, Y. M. (2021). Cloud
computing adoption in higher education: an integrated theoretical model. Recent
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Advances in Technology Acceptance Models and Theories, 191-209.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-64987-6_12
Davis, F. D. (2019). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of
information technology. MIS Quarterly, pp. 319–340.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/249008
King, W. R., & He, J. (2021). A meta-analysis of the technology acceptance model. Information
& Management, 43(6), 740–755.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378720606000528
Klein, H. K., & Myers, M. D. (1999). A set of principles for conducting and evaluating
interpretive field studies in information systems. MIS Quarterly, pp. 67–93.
Marangunić, N., & Granić, A. (2018). Technology acceptance model: a literature review from
1986 to 2013. Universal access in the information society, 14, 81-95.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10209-014-0348-1
