Open and Distance Education/Chapter Two: E-readiness in Higher Education

Khan, 2005 identifies e-readiness as the ability of organizations and capacity of education stakeholders (management, key personnel, teachers, and students) to participate in an electronic environment. It’s also the ability to use technology effectively in Education (Latchem & Jung, 2009). Accordingly, E-learning readiness is a powerful factor that contributes to a successful implementation of e-learning programs (Keramati, Afshari, Kamrani, 2011). The readiness of students and institutions towards technology is the most significant readiness aspect in this context.

A successful e-learning outcome depends on support in a variety of ways considering several factors; the readiness of a culture to share information in a comprehensive manner, the readiness of the institution to invest in developing strong robust infrastructure and the readiness of the learner himself to adapt to this e-system.

The next chapter will explain the students' readiness as one of the factors influencing the success and the outcomes of e-learning in higher education.