Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of E-learning from the Perspective of Experts in the Period of COVID-19 Pandemic

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

2 Department of Higher Education Management, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Today, e-learning has become one of the basic components 
of education process, especially in higher education. Institutions and 
universities employ e-learning extensively in their educational operations. 
In light of this, the goal of the current research was to determine the 
advantages, disadvantages, possibilities, and dangers associated with 
e-learning in the Iranian higher education system.
Method: The present research is applied in terms of purpose and with a 
qualitatively exploratory approach. The participants of present study were 
experts in the field of e-learning in public universities of the Ministry of 
Science, Research and Technology in 2021.Using purposive sampling and 
snowball sampling methods, 16 e-learning experts were selected as the 
participants. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and 
thematic analysis was employed to analyze the obtained data. 
Results: After analyzing the obtained data from the interview, the total 
number of 116 free codes were extracted from interviews content was 116 
codes, which were classified in 18 concepts and finally were identified 
strengths (Use of office automation in universities, Establishment of 
information and communication technology centers in universities, 
Development of e-learning in universities, Familiarity of faculty 
members and students with virtual environments, The place of e-learning 
in upstream documents and university perspectives), weaknesses (Lack 
of proper infrastructure, equipment and facilities for e-learning, Lack 
of specialized manpower, Lack of formal regulations for e-learning in 
the field of higher education, Insufficient knowledge about e-learning), 
threats (Threats related to cost, facilities and time, Management 
threats, Threats to change the nature of the university, Threats related 
to interactions) and training opportunities (Increas access to e-learning, 
Expanding international and intercultural interactions, Environmental 
benefits, Providing economic opportunities , Development of educational 
justice) of e-learning in Iranian higher education system. 
Conclusion: Considering the research findings, to develop educational 
justice and the possibility of more population access to the University of 
the Student community, reviewing existing approaches and educational 
methods and using e-learning as a new educational strategy for higher 
education system are necessary

Keywords

References

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