Designing Effective E-Learning Framework for Higher Education: Critical Success Factors

Abstract

The progression of digital technologies and eruption of web incorporation into education proffers a novel trend for higher education institutions to establish web-based environments for teaching and learning. E-learning has become an imperative means for establishing the innovative learning environment for Higher Education in the digital age by offering new flexible learning methods. E-learning is promptly occurring as educational means in Pakistan as in the other global areas, hence utilizing web technologies for the provision of learning in higher education institutions which illustrate the sample acceptance of E-learning system in Pakistani higher education. For establishing E-learning systems, the higher education institutions are required to take broader initiatives for technological infrastructure at higher education institutions. However, a number of factors need serious consideration while designing a successful E-learning framework. The current study aims to determine the CSF (critical success factors) for designing E-learning framework for HEIs (higher education institutions) of Pakistan. Eight studies, already carried out by different researchers providing factors of E-learning framework in varied contexts, were systematically reviewed for deriving critical success factors for E-learning design for higher education institutions of Pakistan. This paper presents an analysis of factors which impact the designing of successful E-learning framework/structure in higher education. Based upon the emphasis in greater chunks of the literature resources, five main classes of factors were considered to be critical by the authors for the successful design of E-learning framework. Conclusively, the five factors i.e. pedagogical factors, technological factors, institutional factors, Design factors and behavioral factors were derived as critical for an effective design of E-learning system. These critical success factors are the main areas of activity that must receive constant and careful attention from the management of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) while planning to design E-learning framework for their institution.