Technology Affordances and Diffusion for Mobile Connectivity and Applications in Zimbabwe

The technology acceptance model (TAM) proposes that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness predict applications usage. Affordances are the interactions between users and tool, i.e. properties of the world that are compatible with and relevant for people’s interactions. Affordance offers a distinctive perspective on the use of ICT in education because of its focus on possibilities for action. The paper assesses the value-adding contribution of the concept of affordances, ascertains how its application provides new insights and enables innovation of mobile technology, and investigates how the notion of affordances can be used to assess the diffusion and explore possible applications of mobile technology into Zimbabwe. The main hypothesis being tested was: “Technology affordances are related to the diffusion of mobile technology in Zimbabwe”. Examples of mobile phone applications used include WhatsApp, games and Ecocash, and potential applications to mobile learning. The quantitative methodology was used as the research paradigm and a survey conducted on 15 selected Zimbabwean schools to evaluate the application of TAM to mobile technology and e-learning. Data on infodensity on 18 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa was analysed to assess the relative progress on mobile technology diffusion in Zimbabwe in comparison with other neighbouring countries for the period 2000 to 2012. The FRAME model for mobile learning is adopted as a framework for implementation to manage the process resulting from the convergence of mobile technologies, human learning capacities and social interaction. TAM was partially supported, and the results showed that perceived usefulness is more important in determining intention to use the technology than attitude toward using. However, the high cost of internet bandwidth is a major prohibitive factor to the diffusion of mobile technology and elearning in Zimbabwe. Keywords— ICTs, TAM, technology affordances, mobile learning, e-learning, connectivity, MOOCS.