The Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art and Communication - TOJDAC
ISSN: 2146-5193, September 2018 Special Edition, p.1138-1146
INSTRUCTORS' CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING E-LEARNING
IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN YEMEN
Hanan Aldowah
Center for Instructional Technology and Multimedia, Universiti Sains Malaysia;
hanan_aldwoah@yahoo.com
Samar Ghazal
Center for Instructional Technology and Multimedia, Universiti Sains Malaysia;
samar_ghzl@yahoo.com
Irfan Umar
Center for Instructional Technology and Multimedia, Universiti Sains Malaysia; irfan@usm.my
ABSTRACT
Public universities in developing countries are confronted with many challenges in implementing e-
learning. Hence, this research aims to identify the major challenges faced by a public university in
Yemen in establishing e-learning as a successful medium for their teaching and learning activities.
This paper will discuss these challenges from the instructors’ perspectives. This quantitative study
using survey approach by means of a questionnaire was used to examine the instructors' views about
the challenges that they face in implementing e-learning in their university. The results revealed four
main challenges faced by the instructors which hinder the successful implementation of e-learning in
the university. These challenges are: individual challenges, course challenges, contextual challenges,
and technological challenges. In specific, the instructors faced contextual challenges in terms of
organizational and cultural aspects. In addition, technological challenges were found to play an
important role in the implementation of e-learning. The study also found that instructors need to apply
the appropriate pedagogical models to deliver their e-learning courses. Furthermore, the instructors are
facing individual challenges in terms of the amount of time needed to deal with e-learning
requirements and the need for financial support for both the instructors and students. The main
contribution of this research is that it addresses the challenges that influence the successful
implementation of e-learning in the public university sector in Yemen as this area of research lacks
theoretical and empirical studies.
Keywords: E-leaning, Challenges , University, Yemen
INTRODUCTION
In the last ten years, the use of e-learning has been increasing rapidly and it has become an important
system offered by most colleges and universities all over the world. This comes as the consequence of
the innovative transfer of knowledge and learning which has been influenced by the advent of the
Internet and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) (Qureshi, Ilyas, Yasmin, &
Whitty, 2012). E-learning is currently the common term used to describe the various uses of ICT to
enhance learning and teaching. It takes the form of online courses and training, by which the courses
and training are delivered via the Internet (Al-Shboul, 2013; Yoloye, 2015).
E-learning has become a worldwide phenomenon to facilitate various aspects of learning and training.
Learning facilitated by the new technology or e-learning is transforming learning and education forms
in ways that extend beyond the efficient delivery value of traditional approaches (Garrison, Anderson,
& Archer, 2003; Wilson & Gapsiso, 2014). It assembles a new pedagogical context, develops new
roles for instructors and students, as well as provides more options for students to create meaningful
learning environments that promote and enhance the learning experience. However, teaching and
learning in an e-learning environment can present new challenges to instructors and students
participating in this online learning environment (Archambault, Larson, Oliver, Roycroft, & Rose,
Submit Date: 10.07.2018, Acceptance Date: 22.08.2018, DOI NO: 10.7456/1080SSE/155
Research Article - This article was checked by Turnitin
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