Critical Success Factors for E-Learning in Educational Context: An Iranian University Experience

This study examines factors that are perceived by university students to be critical for e-learning effectiveness. The study was a cross sectional study
where respondents’ perceptions was measured at one point in time. 169 students around Tehran participated in this study.
Correlation analyses were conducted to test the relationship between instructor characteristics, students characteristics and information technology and e-learning system effectiveness, whereas descriptive analysis was
conducted to analyze demographic characteristics of participants.The results show that there was an association between instructor characteristics and e-learning effectiveness. The findings indicated that the role of instructor in e-learning is important in determining its success.Students’ characteristics such as students’ motivation to use e-learning technology and students’ computing competency have also found to be related with e-learning effectiveness. As compared with the instructor and students’ characteristics, technology quality in terms of access, navigation,interface and the reliability and effectiveness of technology infrastructure have the highest relation to e-learning effectiveness.In conclusion, the results from this study indicate that instructor characteristics, student characteristics and the technology have strong relationships with e-learning effectiveness.