Creating Effective E-Learning Systems for Higher Education in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A new challenge for universities, particularly in the Muslim world, is the development of effective e-Learning environments and tools that are suitable for both distance learning and culturally acceptable mixed gender collaboration. This research evaluates and develops a culturally sensitive e-Learning system in Qassim University and King Abdulaziz University, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A research process involving mixed methods is applied to existing e-Learning environments to determine how to improve their quality. The aim is to develop design characteristics that ensure more useful and accessible e-Learning tools. A set of guidelines that may be applied to the design of similar e-Learning systems in Saudi Arabia, is then proposed. A number of issues have arisen as a result of the introduction of the new electronic learning environment to the educational framework of Saudi Arabia. The success of existing e-Learning systems appears to be highly dependent on the level of system functionality and interaction style. Issues of system complexity and user difficulties in the use of existing e-Learning systems may be resolved or offset by facilitating easier interaction between students and teachers. By testing the design and implementation of high quality e-Learning services in environments education for using the IS-Impact Measurement model, the levels of interaction and cooperation between users have been evaluated to identify key features of success in the e-learning system. Existing and developmental e-Learning systems have been subjected to comparison with usability heuristics and user evaluations to determine their most successful features (Katre 2007, 301).