The adoption of e-learning beyond MOOCs for higher education

Purpose This paper aims to explore factors influencing university students' intent to take formal lectures completely through e-learning with cloud meetings. Design/methodology/approach This study has surveyed Chinese students who have experienced e-learning with cloud meetings as well as traditional massive open online courses (MOOC) without live dialogues. The data are analysed based on structural equation modelling to assess factors influencing students' intent to choose e-learning with cloud meetings. Findings The findings show that as per the technology acceptance model, e-learning students who find learning to be easier with cloud meetings than MOOCs believe cloud meeting courses to be more beneficial and thus are more willing to take e-learning with cloud meetings. Originality/value This study compares e-learning with cloud meetings with MOOCs without live dialogues for the first time to highlight the value of open dialogues in real time for effective e-learning.