by Annette Poro

Created on: May 18, 2008

How to Establish and Provide an e-Learning Environment: Eight Factors to Consider

Colleges, universities, and corporate organisations that wish to develop an e-learning strategy and develop e-learning teaching and training practices need to consider and address eight closely interrelated elements. A successful alignment of these elements is required to establish a successful e-learning environment.

1. Organisational Culture

In the first instance there is probably an existing learning culture and existing learning methods in place. This is the status quo with which all stakeholders are familiar and comfortable. Introducing technology into learning challenges this comfortable status quo and requires culture change. It requires key stakeholders teachers, managers, and learners to think differently and behave differently. Changing the status quo is always difficult. This is a key challenge.

2. e-Learning Maturity and Strategy

Organisations and individual stakeholders are at varying levels of maturity, awareness and openness regarding the use of technology in learning.

Amongst the stakeholders there can be 'blockers' and 'champions'. The attitude of the key decision makers is crucial. If a key decision maker is a champion, then it is easy to proceed and vice versa. Sometimes the champions come from unexpected sources. If champions from any source are supported when they create 'small-wins', this can act as an example for others and in this way helps to advance the use of technology in learning in other areas.

An e-learning strategy within the context of wider learning and training strategy will be enormously helpful. It will be put in place if and when the organisation and key stakeholders recognise the many issues to be managed in introducing technology into learning.

3. Resources

If an organisation wants to use technology to facilitate learning in any serious way, this will demand resources. It will require time, it will require that expertise be developed or found and it will require the investment of money and technological infrastructure. Successful e-learning initiatives tend to involve dedicated resources (personnel, budget, technological infrastructure and time).

4. Technology

Information and communication technology is evolving. This change has the potential to revolutionise :

- How people can learn
Where people can learn
- When people can learn
- Who can learn and who can teach

Teaching that takes full advantage of technological possibilities tends to move in the direction

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