Assessment of e-Learning Readiness of Academic Staff & Students of Higher Education Institutions in Gujarat, India

Abstract

Gujarat has many prestigious higher education institutions which are inclined towards using e-learning platform. The present cross-sectional study is an attempt to assess the eLearning readiness of the stakeholders of these institutions. For this, data was collected (physical/e-form) through a self-developed questionnaire from a sample of 12 lab administrators, 83 teaching staff and 153 students belonging to 35 colleges of Gujarat which are using the e-learning practices. Frequency, percentage and intensity index were used to analyze the data. Majority of the stakeholders have a positive perception towards concept of e-learning and believe that it has many benefits. However, they feel that e-learning helps to a lesser extent in maintaining transparency, face to face contact and interactivity. These factors may hinder their readiness towards e-learning. Also unreliable technology and lack of faculty members’ confidence and expertise to use this platform in teaching environment are seen as biggest barriers in e-learning. Hence, there is an immediate need to plan for training programmes which will help in improving the confidence of faculty members in using this platform and would increase their e-learning readiness.