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1. The Success Factors for Effective Implementation of E-learning
Systems
After deep analysis for the outstanding models focusing on the critical success factors essential for effective
implementation of e-learning systems which were introduced by Khan (2001), Institute of Higher Education
Policy (2000) and Oliver (2001), I have come up with a new model consisting of five dimensions –
pedagogy, technology, support, management and evaluation- which are explained as follows;
1. The Pedagogical Dimension
This dimension includes five factors focusing on the pedagogy of building the e-learning curriculum. It
includes setting the goals and objectives, designing the whole system and the specific courses, methods and
activities of teaching and learning, learner assessment and the medium of delivery.
1.1. Goals and Objectives:
Clear statements of what learners will achieve should be provided. These also will guide the process of
creating the course content, choosing the best teaching methods, setting the teaching and learning activities
and finally the assessment process.

2. 1.2. Designing:
This indicates the whole learning delivery system design approach and the specific design for the courses.
1.2.1. The learning System Design
Designing the learning system depends on the content domain knowledge. The system design should have a
suitable learning approach (Instructivist -Constructivist). Here, the roles of the instructor and the learner
should be identified clearly. Regarding who is responsible for designing the learning system, I agree with
Oliver (2001, p.4) indicating that the decision-making regarding technology development should be based
on pedagogical and educational consideration regardless of the technology itself. So, designing the learning
system or environment should be done by the educational experts with the help of technologists.
1.2.1. The Course Design
This is related to setting the outlines for the course structure design. It’s better that working on the course -
setting the objectives, outlining the structure, preparing resources and materials and designing- is done by
the instructor or the subject matter expert. However, if this is not possible, both - the subject matter expert
and the instructional designer - should work side by side in preparing every single part of the course.
As e-learning has a distinctive nature, a great attention should be paid to the leaner engagement and content
interaction. Also, the designing approach should set the best organizing of the learning content.
1.3. Methods and Activities:
The teaching and learning methods and activities should be chosen carefully in accordance with the subject
matter, the nature of the learner and the nature of e-learning, “and the technical and structural attributes of
the web can be used to support these activities” (Khan, 2001, p.p.80-81). There are various instructional
activities such as tutorials, simulations, games, presentations ...etc.
1.4. Learner Assessment:
This relates to the ways and techniques of judging how much the learning goals are achieved by the learner
and the learner performance. The web-based learning has a vast variety of assessment tools and techniques.
1.5. Medium
This is about deciding on the suitable medium for best content delivery and examining its attributes and
resources.
2. Technological Dimension
This dimension is related to the technology infrastructure of e-learning environments which, I think, consists
of three factors - Planning the infrastructure, course development and course delivery.

3. 2.1. Infrastructure Planning
Planning the infrastructure includes planning the IT requirements, assessment and availability of personnel
and human resources to maintain and support ICT.
2.2. Course Development
This is related to the process of course creation using the design done by the subject matter expert alone or
with the instructional designer. This issue includes all the hardware and software needed to do that task.
2.3. Course Delivery
This is related to creating the learning management system or subscribing to and setting up a dependable
and stable existing one to run and manage the course. And, the hardware and software needed for that
should be identified.
3. Support Dimension
This is the support needed for the staff and learners. It can take three forms - the training needed for the staff
and learners, guidelines and documents availability and troubleshooting technical problems
3.1. Training
This is related to the training that both the staff and learners should have. The instructors need to know how
to use the e-learning environment to deliver the courses and the learners need to know, for instance, how to
deal with the interface, how to reach their schedules, where to find assignments and how to upload answers,
etc.
3.2. Guidelines Availability
This is about the technical support guidelines and documents that should be available for both the instructor
and the learners.
3.3. Troubleshooting
It’s about diagnosing and solving technical problems facing the instructors or learners. This kind of support
should be available anytime specially during the lessons delivery.
4. Management Dimension
This is regarding managing the learning environment which can take two forms;

4. 4.1. Maintenance
This concerns managing the learning environment. It includes managing the course content, learning
resources, staffing, budgeting, security measures, evaluation mechanisms, etc.
4.2. Information Distribution
This is related to the way of exchanging information and feedback between learners and instructors or
management staff. This information can be syllabus, schedules, announcements, grades, assignments, etc.
5. Evaluation Dimension
This dimension focuses on the policies and procedures addressing how to evaluate the whole learning
environment and the instructional programs. It includes the outcomes assessment, data collection, the
program effectiveness, obtaining feedback from learners, etc.
The above-mentioned dimensions scale should be put into consideration by every e-learning-based
educational system in order to achieve successful and effective e-learning.
By Khalid Abdel-Moneim Al-Maghraby
#E-learning
#Distance_Learning
#SuccessFactorsforE-learning
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