Evaluation of the Readiness for E-Learning from the Viewpoints of the Students and Professors of Allameh Tabataba’i University

Abstract

Introduction : Achieving e-learning requires a comprehensive study on different aspects of e-learning readiness. The present study aimed to evaluate the readiness for e-learning from the viewpoints of the students as well as faculty members of Allameh Tabataba'i University. Methods : This is a survey research and the statistical population was all professors and students of Allameh Tabataba'i University in 2014 - 2015 section. One hundred and fifty (150) students were selected through simple random clustering, and 50 professors were selected through convenient sampling as the population of the study. The instrument of study was “evaluation of readiness for e-learning in Iranian university" questionnaire and its content and face validity were verified by professionals, and its reliability was measured through Cronbach's coefficient alpha which was (0.75, 0.79). To analyze the data, descriptive and mean, SD statistics (independent T-test and Freedman test) were used. Results : The result showed that the degree of the hard readiness (3.6 mean) and total readiness (3.33 mean) was in the desirable level and soft readiness (3.07 mean) was in the moderate level from the students' viewpoint and the soft, monitoring, coordinating and supporting and total readiness (respectively, 2.36, 1.98, 2.81 mean) were evaluated as undesirable from the viewpoint of the professors, but their evaluation in hard readiness (4.1 mean) indicated that they confirm the status of the university in this readiness, which is desirable. Conclusions : Evaluation of the readiness for e-learning in the universities provided information on the strengths and weaknesses of this center in achieving e-learning.