4 IEEE CCC Code: 978-1-4244-6019-9/09/$26.00 ©2009 IEEE. Abstract—E-learning systems such as Computer based Training (CBT) and Web based Training (WBT) are globally proving their reliability and importance with respect to traditional knowledge gaining methods. In healthcare, a huge potential to apply these techniques is observed and consequently, new research opportunities are increasingly taking our attentions (e.g., Telemedicine). The integration of e-learning and Healthcare systems is expected to leave a huge impact on countries wherein certain knowledge is hardly available (i.e., developing nations). Egypt is the case study selected for having major problems in healthcare. This research methodology is qualitative with proof of some empirical data, gathered from experiments held online for a group of Egyptian healthcare professionals using two different delivery techniques of content with the same pedagogical strategies. In an attempt to analyze the driven results after delivering this e-course using two different techniques, it was concluded that the WBT method was better as a more learner- centered, motivating, content-focused, allowing collaboration and discussion between peers, at effective timing, however it was harder to implement. While the CBT method which was distributed at a larger scale, as a stand-alone solution where people took at their convenient time and place, but it was neither interactive nor the objectives were clear, Comparing both techniques would help future work in this area. Index Terms—Educational Technology, Training, Computer aided instruction and Medical Information System. I. INTRODUCTION -learning is changing the nature of teaching and learning by integrating innovative technologies and strategies allowing more interactivity and motivation to learners. “E-learning or ‘technology enhanced learning’ describes the use of technology to support and enhance learning practice”. [1]. The Egyptian government is supporting e-learning strongly especially after noticing its potentials to solve and enhance education and training. Some case studies are there such as VITI4Kids; a website that offers IT basics in a highly interactive way for Egyptian children of age 4 to 9 years [2]. On the other hand, the e-learning university in Egypt (EELU); it is the first in Egypt and in the Middle East which offers a full online program for undergraduates and postgraduates [3]. Another project called: “Edu Egypt” which is the first of its kind working within Egyptian universities bridging the gap 1 Amena M A Safwat is a Research Assistant at the Information Technology Institute (ITI), Egypt (phone: +2 (0)2 3535 5509; e-mail: amenas@iti.net.eg). 2 Amir Pourabdollah is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Geospatial Science (CGS), University of Nottingham, UK (phone: +44 (0)115 846 6058; e-mail: Amir.Pourabdollah@nottingham.ac.uk). between graduates and market opportunities by delivering IT, interpersonal and lingual skills [4]. Another joint project between Germany and Egypt provided e-learning solutions for five years concluding that the two main barriers of e- learning are that Egyptian students do not like reading or effective listening. Pinpointing the main benefits of applying e-learning in Egypt as follows: 1. Better understanding of content, where presentation techniques engaged students. 2. Collaboration in between students, due to high interactivity. 3. Learner motivation to know more about the subject area after the huge amount of learning resources being shared. 4. Involvement of students using simulations that is of high potential to enhance learning. [5] Without a doubt coping with new technologies is important but we need to focus on the learning process that is quite crucial, when it comes to learning using new tools and techniques. Easily learners forget about the content and get involved in how the tools look and work. As a result, blended learning approach proves to be more effective in places (i.e. Egypt) where face-to-face learning is the most common way of teaching or training. The main challenge is developing e-learning materials for training healthcare professionals, where most of them are computer illiterates, due to the poor Human-PC interaction in the medical education system. Addressing this challenge, the main research objectives are to: 1. Formulate instructional strategies towards developing suitable content for the target audience. 2. Develop learning objects in a highly interactive way. 3. Integrate the learning objects, producing two delivery methods: WBT and CBT. 4. Publish both delivery methods online and capture the results by evaluating learners' level of knowledge, understanding, and feedback. 5. Draw conclusions based on those experiments targeting Egypt’s local healthcare professionals. II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND A. E-Learning: Considering the key barriers for successful learning such as: 1. Learning of science perceived as memorization of facts, not as developing problem solving skills. 2. Vague relationship between the science learnt in school and the science problems encountered in life situations. E-learning for Healthcare Professionals Towards HIS in Egypt Amena Safwat 1 and Amir Pourabdollah 2 E