E-learning Policy Research Articles

A Proposed e-Learning Policy Field for the Academy

In this article, Lewin’s (1951) social field theory is used as a framework for analyzing the potential for implementing scalable and sustainable e-learning initiatives in the Academy. Powerful external economic and social forces coming to bear on academic leadership decisions are considered. The impacts of the emergence of the global learning society, knowledge economy, and information technology paradigm are explored. Five social forces—postmodernism, the interpretive turn, identity politics, and the post-colonial critique (Lincoln, 2001)—are examined. Existing and emerging pressures, exerted by both external and internal socioeconomic forces, are analyzed for their potential to support or inhibit adoption of e-learning initiatives into research, teaching, and learning activities. An e-learning policy field is posited.

The fit between e-learning policy and institutional culture

Universities tend to exhibit different cultural characteristics. The classifications of Yetton et al. (1997; old, new and divisional) and McNay (1995; corporation, collegium, bureaucracy and enterprise) are used to explore the diversity between, and complexity of, universities in the 21st century. Increasing financial stringency in university budgets has brought quite rapid changes to university culture and this relatively new cultural fluidity needs to be understood. We postulate a rise in the divisional/enterprise aspect of university culture. The development of eLearning policy in two universities in Hong Kong with very different overall cultures is used to illustrate these points. The applicability of the discussion to universities in other regions of the world is explored. The strategies of consultation, support and evaluation can assist with the development of a reflective and responsive university community; such strategies may assist in optimising the fit between e-learning policy and institutional culture.

E-Learning in Taiwan's Higher Education

It has been three years since Taiwan started the comprehensive e-learning initiatives in 2002. What is the current status of Taiwan’s e-learning in higher education? What has been shaping and guiding the e-learning practices there? What are the problems in its e-learning policies and implementations? What can policy makers and higher education systems elsewhere learn from Taiwan’s experiences? With critical analyses on related policies and a thorough investigation on e-learning in all of the 147 four-year universities in Taiwan, this study investigated these questions, identified fundamental problems in Taiwan’s e-learning, and generated suggestions to address these problems. With 1.3 billion Chinese speakers worldwide and estimated 30 million people learning Chinese in non-Chinese speaking countries, this paper is of particular value not only for policy makers and the higher education system in Taiwan and elsewhere, but also for e-learning venders and developers who would like to extend e-learning business to the broader Chinese-speaking market.

The e-Learning movement as a process of quality improvement in higher education

Quality in education has been recognized as an issue that should guide our efforts for improvement of teaching and learning processes. e-learning is the latest attempt to take advantage of developments in technology to improve learning. In this paper, we discuss the possibility of establishing a theory of e-learning, the value of design patterns, and the possible scenarios of implementation by higher education institutions attempting to use new technologies. We present the results of a survey concerning students' and faculty members' views regarding e-learning implementation. Data collection was accomplished through a specially designed questionnaire administered to 1,938 students and 46 faculty members. Ten faculty members were also interviewed for more in-depth analysis. Based on the results of the survey, we propose a series of actions which could form the basis for developing an e-learning policy through continuous improvement of a university's teaching program and we discuss wider implications for teaching and learning.

Supporting e‐learning—a view from the Open University

Supporting e‐learning—a view from the Open University

Does e-learning policy drive change in higher education?

Does e-learning policy drive change in higher education?

E-learning policies, practices and challenges in two Norwegian organizations

This article reports a pilot study on the uses of technology to enable learning within a formal educational setting in a higher education institution and within a corporation. These two Norwegian cases were selected due to their commitment to technology-enabled learning, as expressed in policy and strategy documents. The aim was to investigate the commitment and actual use of information and communications technology (ICT) for learning as well as what key actors think are the major challenges for successful large scale implementation of ICT for learning. The findings indicate that there is insufficient follow-up on e-learning policies and that there is a general lack of strategic direction and leadership in this area. The key challenges respondents highlight relate to the need for a systematic and pedagogical approach to e-learning in which three equally important considerations must be balanced: organization, pedagogy and technology. Key perspectives of a coherent pedagogical and organizational framework for planning e-learning are discussed.