O7.5.1

=Information on student preparedness for e-learning guides allocation of support resources for e-learning initiatives.=

Evidence
There is an ongoing need to monitor the use of e-learning and ICTs for course delivery because there is as yet no consensus about what constitutes quality e-learning (Usoro & Abid 2008). These authors state that, ‘effective quality strategies, initiatives and tools are very important for convincing lecturers and other stakeholders to adopt e-learning’ (p. 80). Kidney et al. (2007) believe that, ‘a quality online course would be the direct result of a course creation process that included quality assurance strategies’ (p. 18).

To improve e-learning outcomes it is important to learn from past mistakes, according to Ehrmann (2002), who argues that tracking progress is not only necessary to stay on course but also to identify solvable problems that can attract fresh resources (p. 55).

Validation of e-learning processes and resources is a significant stage in the full cycle of organisational learning that describes success in terms of ‘student performance, student satisfaction, staff experience, and cost effectiveness, as judged in relation to the original intentions’ (Salmon, 2000, p. 236). Salmon discusses validating as one of six activities in the iterative process of creating an effective learning organisation infrastructure that enables ‘the system to learn about itself’ (p. 237).

Kidney et al. (2007) believe that, ‘a quality online course would be the direct result of a course creation process that included quality assurance strategies’ (p. 18). This is exactly what is described by Abdous (2009) in a pilot programme.

Students’ capability for effective e-learning is related to their information, communication and technology (ICT) proficiency and skill level, thus there is a crucial need to assess, and understand the ICT proficiency and skill level, and support its development, for all students (Hillesheim, 1998).

Ho et al. (2010) found that e-learning system quality and e-learning readiness influence learning outcomes indirectly through e-learners' competency. Therefore, organizations that would like to implement e-learning with their employees should focus on improving individuals' online learning skills such as self-direction, meta-cognitive, and collaborative skills.

Resources
A pre-course assessment such as an e-passport test could be used to gauge student readiness for e-learning:

http://www.e-skills.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/newsletters/passport_issue1_story.html?uid=935

Course activities can then be tailored to needs.

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/themes/elearning/effpraceassess.pdf

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/RM%20Final%20report%20Vfv.doc