Effectiveness of E-Learning Systems in Universities
Introduction
Advanced information communication and technology have improved the quality of goods and services that are offered worldwide. Currently, traditional methods of performing tasks in manufacturing industries, the education sector, the agricultural industry, service industries, and government sectors have been directly enhanced by incorporating the modern progress in technology. Although economic development has been one of the vital aspects of a country’s advancement, education is the most significant factor in country development. Various studies have been conducted and analyzed on the techniques and procedures to be integrated into the education system to meet the stipulated level of knowledge of the students in the United Arab Emirates. The education sector with the assistance of the government have enacted policies and strategies to be implemented to realize the desired levels of education in the country. One of the plan designed is to implement the use of the e-learning system into Universities and other learning institutions in the country. The purpose of the e-learning system will provide extensive research information to students and employees in the various organization in disseminating information. E-learning systems mostly used include Adobe Connect, Adobe, Microsoft teams, Blackboard collaborate ultra, and Zoom.
Problem definition
Improved service delivery has necessitated institutions to incorporate e-learning as a fundamental element in handling daily tasks. The government and relevant sectors in the economy have invested many resources for the information technology department to facilitate technical and improved performance of responsibilities. Some of the critical aspects that have led to foster e-learning for instance are, installation of information system technology infrastructure within every part of the country, world nature pandemics covid-19, reduced cost in offering the services, flexible and inexpensive, adequate information retrieved, convenient to the users and it is a 24hours available. The government wants to encourage tutors to be making an arrangement with the students to avail of learning being done online. This allows the students to attend lecture tutorials while at home. The tutors and the students can hold meetings and face to face conversions using video skype and online application soft wares that integrate the execution process. Working organizations have also embraced some departments to be allowed to work and submit reports from the respective home. This process of e-learning reduces problems of social contact, especially when the world is experiencing the world pandemics that can be transmitted by body contact, coughing, sneezing, and social gathering. E-learning will help to prevent people from the social group and reduce the spread of the deadly covid-19 pandemic. It also allows organizations to reduce costs like a commuter allowance to working employees, reduced rental space for working offices of the employees in a business organization.
Background information
E-learning involves accessing the database via the internet and the intranet using digital gadgets like interconnected computers, routers, modems, and networks. Various companies have developed online e software that facilitates users to access online information from the data files. Recently, all companies worldwide have opted to change the way of operation by moving from labor-intensive methods of service delivery and production to integrating capital intensive processes that require recruitment of skilled and experts. Top organization in the country has revealed that some of the young qualified employees are not able to use computers in performing the duties in the organization. They opt to apply manual techniques that are time-consuming and inaccurate in terms of quality delivery of the work presented. This motivated institution to establish e-learning facilities and infrastructure to foster students to get used to being learning and management learning systems. The available methods that can offer E-learning platforms include zoom platform, Microsoft teams, adobe connect, blackboard ultra, to mention a few. Different institutions install different e-learning soft wares that are feasible to use to a vast number of participants.
Keengwe (2015) describes e-learning using electronic media, information, communication, and technology in accessing online and offline data. He advocated that e-learning or virtual learning can be personal learning and team-based while sharing the data from the internet database. The project assists in passing information to individuals to understand the critical elements of embracing e-learning in working organizations and the education centers in the country.
Literature Review
According to Bremaud, virtual learning improves compactness relationship among the relevant participants (2013). The students can access a broad coverage of information about a topic or a matter under discussion. Undergraduate and graduate students can obtain a variety of study materials. The essential aspects of lectures are to provide quality skills and knowledge on how to solve daily issues and meet the corporate demands of workers. The tutors give students materials that are wide in coverage to help students improve creativity and thinking skills of handling a problem in society. E-learning systems provide an alternative method of analyzing a student in open discussion, presentation of ideas techniques, and developing of the new designs. The students can select the topic of their choice and analyze it using the existing concepts and technical information to criticize or recommend its usability.
Technology innovation and advancement improve the close relationship among the lectures and students as the speeches can signal the students when to commence writing notes, submitting the assignments, attending the tutorials (Anderson et al., 2005). Technology progress assists the students to meet online and discuss the research as they execute the teachers’ assignments. The students can use the e-learning systems platforms and other educational, social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter Youtube. Social medial platforms have developed the telecommunication networks where live tutorials can be achieved as students can be updated at any time. Educational journals and magazines have been availed in the universities’ online libraries where students can subscribe to the materials. Students can access the recent research done on educational topics by logging in to the student portal and access the online library materials for free. This advancement in technology helps the government to continue enacting the education.
Konterman (2010) studied the impact of close affection created by face to face communication between the students and the lectures. They revealed great connection is felt between the students and the lectures when learning is done in classrooms and face to face. E-learning systems provide the solution of face to face learning by offering detailed video conferencing where students can ask and answer questions. Zoom systems have highly recognized features that help tutors to set questions for the students, send and prepare notes for the students, make the lesson plans and schemes of work for the student in the application soft wares. A multitude of tasks can be organized and executed in the online software.
According to (Allison et al., 2007) emphasizes that e-learning and management learning systems have made the top CEOs and management teams be comfortable in monitoring the business risk and financial risk. E-learning has promoted the use of technology in running businesses. Recognized performing CEOs worldwide post the strategies and the tactics employed in motivating employees to deliver excellent results. Employees in top companies not only meet their targets but exceeds the expectation of the management. E-learning enables organizations to ascertain the best technologies to use to realize the enterprise goals. In the accounting profession, various accounting system soft wares have been developed to aid in service delivery and monitoring the business leverage. The systems demonstrate the flow of transactions to the completion stage. Management learning systems assist the corporate in installing the required auditing systems to reduce the occurrence of errors and fraud. Deals must not be completed by an individual but many independent individuals to prove the authenticity of the activity. Some of the approved accounting systems are sage, pastel, quick books, and enterprise resource planning that are used to increase the reliability and accuracy of the information data.
The quality of e-learning offered in universities and corporate institutions should be relevant, and match participants’ requirements (Anderson et al., 2005) E-learning should help students build their skills of information and solving problems in the society. Mendez et al. 2012 offered two classifications of e-learning can be experiential learning and cognitive learning. All these earning styles help people to know the existence of certain phenomena and how it works to help solve complex problems in society. E-learning learning provides technical knowledge and skills that can be used in designing new machines that are used in the production process (Manjon et al., 2015). Corporate institutions can discover new tactics of hiring qualified staff, reducing manufacturing costs, and entering into feasible contracts with the suppliers. In educational centers, tutors can conduct exams with the students using the e-learning soft wares. Grading and commenting on the students’ performance can also be done online using e-learning systems.
In 2012, Anand et al. advocated that e-learning comprises computer learning, web learning, and technology-based learning. Virtual based education alone cannot provide a competent professional who can tackle corporate-based issues that requires creativity and innovation in settlement of the problems. Lecturers can pass information through the intranet, internet, extranet and audio or videotape, satellite tv, and CD-ROM comprising media as the message, photos, pictures, animation, and video conferencing (Anand et al., 2012). The significant feature of eLearning is not to access the quantity of online information but the availability of the data when it is retrieved (Anand et al., 2012). Obtaining the report at any period is one of the core attributes of e-learning in schools and corporate organizations.
Cummings, Butler, and Kraut (2010) gave a contradicting statement on the e-learning relationship created by tutors and students compared to other researchers who believe that physical classrooms are more effective. According to research reviewed in the empirical studies on e-learning and physical classroom, it was found that most students and lecturers are shifting from the physical classroom because it’s convenient and accessible to the students. Most students and corporates are adopting e-learning because it provides them with the contributions of experts who have prevailed in the specific field (Ahemed et al., 2019). The cost of funding education is very demanding and expensive. Most students cannot afford the fees required to pay for physical classroom lectures. Continuous expert contribution and knowledge can be posted in the academic journals, and students can access the information. Corporate companies can conduct job training and seminars using e-learning platforms. E-learning confirms the needs of both fast and slow learners in the institution (Sampson et al., 2015). At convenient times, students can access lecture notes and tutorials to answer and understand any contradicting point.
Blashki (2013) described the proficient environmental conditions that make e-learning content to be delivered appropriately. The lectures develop the critical requirement of the topic by understanding the learners’ competencies, registers the students, and monitors the students’ performance by administering the online exams. The tutor can schedule classes and revisions to those students who encounter difficulties in interpreting and understanding educational concepts and calculations. The students can analyze the lecture lessons and rate the quality and inclusiveness of the topic details captured by the lecturer. The tutor can organize and structure an open discussion forum with the students to exchange topic ideas that are relevant in the discussion. E-learning document retrieval should be simple and accessible by users (Garrison, 2011). The content delivered to the internet should be readily available and retrieved by the students when required. The information can only be significant if it meets the needs of the students. The educational journal and online materials are extensive, electronic searching engine devices and adoption of computers based systems were started (Garrison, 2011). Many internet users encounter many challenges searching the exact e-learning content that is relevant to the topic of discussion. Users can understand the keywords that convey the message that is being researched on.
E-learning needs to be incorporated in the modern education systems in the country. This will benefit the students to grasp adequate knowledge that can guide them to score high grades and being accepted in the job market. The internet platform database has a more extensive library of information that can assist researchers to support the existing concepts and theories and, at the same time reject unsatisfactory techniques that are used in service delivery (Longworth, 2019). Students who have low self-esteem like the introverts can find e-learning easy and comfortable for them. It reduces procrastination as it is in the comfort zones of the students. It replaces the traditional classroom where once a student misses a lesson. It becomes difficult for him to recover the skipped experience. In e-learning, one can retrieve the lecture tutorial and analyze its content step by step.
Methodology
Research approach
Quantitative research was conducted at different groups of people based on gender, education level, age, employment, universities that the students are attached, how the conversant are the people informed about e-learning. Numerical data in figures are collected to be analyzed and to develop a hypothesis about e-learning in the institution.
Study population
For finer details and reduction of the bias. The target population was based on age groups, education level, employment, e-learning system prevalence, and the institution attended by the students. This research strategy will integrate a large group of people who can give finer details to e-learning education. Depending on the specific group, information was collected by random sampling in terms of the e-learning system that is in use. Other methods that were used are cluster sampling and selected sampling. This strategy provided adequate information that is used to determine the significance of e-learning universities and institutions. The target group was contacted using WhatsApp groups, email addresses, Facebook, and Twitter.
Data collection
An independent team was financed to help in finding the information from the public. The research team had closed questionnaires that were presented to the target group to select the alternative answers that were best suited. Research teams were dispatched to social places, corporate organizations, universities, and other learning centers to collect their responses with respect to e-learning. All target group responses were recorded for analysis and interpretation.
Survey design
The questionnaire was designed to meet the needs of the researcher about the use of e-learning systems in society. Easily created questions were asked that every individual could answer. The questionnaire responses clear and detailed to the point. The questions were based on employment levels, age, frequency of use of e-learning in institutions, gender, types of e-learning systems, education levels.
Analysis and findings
Target group responses were recorded and analyzed as follows.
According to age distribution
Figure table 1: Show age distribution responses
According to the target group responses, it was ascertained most of the e-learning consumers are students or young adults age between 20 to 30 years old. 79 % of e-learning consumers are those people aged below 40 years. This class of people mostly are students and employees.
E-learning preference in terms of gender
Figure table 2: show language and gender
About the 73 respondents that were interviewed at random, 77% of the respondents were female, while 23% of the respondents were female. Most of the respondents are Arabic mother language, which is 93.2. The rest, 6.8% were non-Arabic mother language.
In terms of careers and study level
Figure table 3: shows the study level and line of study
Most of the students pursuing business and economics preferred e-learning representing 28.8% of the total responses. Engineering students followed closely with arts and humanities. Other careers rarely preferred e-learning. In terms study level, of the 71 respondents, 2nd-year students liked e-learning compared to other years’ study level. The graph is uniformly distributed among the students’ study level.
In terms of employment levels
Figure table 4: shows employment levels and e-learning systems mostly preferred
Many platforms have been designed to provide e-learning. Among the 73 respondents who were interviewed, Microsoft teams are the most e-learning platforms that are used in many institutions. The other e-learning platforms are rarely used. 68.9% of the people using e-learning are not working. 31.1% of the people using e-learning are the working population.
In terms of e-learning usage
Figure table 5: e-learning for delivering lectures
E-learning was mostly used in delivering lessons to the students. Few institutions never implemented the use of e-learning.
E-learning system
Figure table 6: shows the frequency of using e-learning
The respondents show that in the university, e-learning was frequently used delivering education to the students. Few institutions that never integrated the e-learning systems.
E-learning systems in coordination
Figure table 7: shows previous semester use of e-learning
The students’ response shows that universities are using e-learning in delivering education to the students.
Figure table 8: shows the system platform usage
Most tutors and corporate organizations use the Microsoft team platform in e-learning.
Discussion
E-learning is widely used in corporate institutions and universities to deliver quality information. According to the respondents from students, it shows that all the universities in the United Arab Emirates are using e-learning techniques. The young population is fond of using the e-learning platforms compared to the older generation. This depicts that most of the e-learning beneficiaries are the students. It was also realized that Microsoft teams’ platform is the most used by the institutions to impart e-learning education. Most mother Arabic speaking language are the ones who are using e-learning education. In terms of gender, females prefer online learning compared to their male counterparts.
Conclusions and recommendations
E-learning education improved the education content delivered to students. Comprehensive knowledge is covered, and the student has a lot of materials to consult. On the other hand, the lecturers can prepare enough content and expertise to the students. E-learning helps the students to be creative and innovative. Adequate knowledge is provided in the e-learning platforms that enable the students to have relevant skills that are desired by the employees in the job market. In the future, more research is conducted on how to ensure every institution and household should be served with modern information and communication technology to facilitate e-learning. E-learning adds value to users and access information at a convenient time.
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