Ease Over Efficiency: Adopting Online Collaboration Platforms in Cross-Institutional EMI Context

Abstract

This study explores the effectiveness of the online collaboration platform, ClickUp, for collaborative learning in Taiwanese English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) courses. Analyzing data from 214 undergraduates across five universities using a UTAUT-based model, this research investigates factors influencing students’ behavioral intentions. Results indicate that both Attitude toward Using Technology and Effort Expectancy serve as significant predictors of behavioral intention, whereas Performance Expectancy influences behavioral intention indirectly through these factors. In contrast, Facilitating Conditions were found to exert a significant negative influence on behavioral intention. Qualitatively, participants praised ClickUp’s intuitive interface and peer-review utility for improving writing proficiency, interpreting its benefits through the lens of Cognitive Load Theory, though some reported challenges related to time management and group dynamics. Collectively, these results suggest that the adoption of user-friendly collaborative platforms such as ClickUp can foster greater student engagement and improve writing outcomes in cross-institutional EMI settings by prioritizing ease of use to manage cognitive load.