ISSN: 2222-6990
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E-learning presents an entirely new learning environment for students, thus requiring a
different skill set to be successful (Romiszowski, 2004). Critical thinking, research, and
evaluation skills are growing in importance as students have increasing volumes of information
from a variety of sources to sort through (New Media Consortium, 2007). Also, particularly in
courses that are entirely electronic, students are much more independent than in the
traditional setting. This requires that they be highly motivated and committed to learning
(Huynh et al., 2003), with less social interaction with peers or an instructor. Students in online
courses tend to do as well as those in classrooms, but there is higher incidence of withdrawal or
incomplete grades (Zhang, Zhou and Briggs, 2006).
E- learning can be viewed as computer assisted learning, and as pedagogy for studentcentered and collaborative learning. Early developments in e-learning focused on computer
assisted learning, where part or all of the learning content is delivered digitally. More recently
the pedagogical dimension of e-learning has become prominent. E-learning comprises all forms
of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication
systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning
process.
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