1. Success Factors for eLearning in Pakistan
Prepared by Tayyaba Riaz,
M.Phil (Education)
Iqra University, Karachi.
E-Learning:
"E-Learning provides an effective way of
learning. The purpose of eLearning is to
facilitate learner by providing an efficient
way of using appropriate information and
communication tool." Farid, Niaz, Atimaz
and Ashghar: 2014.
"E-learning in commonly referred to
intentional use of information and
communication technology in teaching
and Learning."
E-learning is content and instructional
method delivered on a computer whether
ON CD-ROM, Internet or Intranet and
designed to build knowledge and skills
related to individual or organizational
goal" DeMaaged, 2011.
Similarly e-learning can be remembered
as online learning, virtual learning,
distributed learning, network and web
based teaching-learning (Som Naidu,
2006)
E-learning is of two types
1. Synchronous
2. Asynchronous
Adapted from: Asynchronous and
Synchronous E-Learning, by Stefan
Hrastinski, EDUCAUSE Quarterly, vol.31,
no.4 (October-December, 2008)
Synchronous:-
Synchronous is an interactive activity
where learner and instructor are
available at a time online
(Hrastinski,2008) such as Video
Conferencing, Blackboard Collaborate,
Adobe Connect, Web Ex, Skype.
Synchronous gives freedom from
restriction of space in learning one can
learn through video conferencing no
matter how far residing from the
instructor, it provide opportunity to
understand the task and interact with
fellows and instructor for discussion at
the same time and saves learners from
delays in reply and get immediate
answers to the queries raised.
Synchronous e-learning is a way to make
class more interactive and raises the

2. success and satisfaction among and
within learners, e-Learning, virtual, tweet,
blogs and face to face learning is an
example of it (Anderson,2008).
Asynchronous:-
Asynchronous is more convenient and
popular type of e-learning, which is free
from restriction of time and space
(Hrastinski, 2008). It enables learner to
access the learning content when he/she
want according to convenience.
Pakistan has an excel in asynchronous
type of e-learning from a very long time
Allama Iqbal Open University, Virtual
University, Comsat University, Bahudinn
Zikria University, University of Peshawar
(Inamullah,2014), Islamia University of
Bahawalpur, University of Sindh
(Jomshoro), University of Karachi
(Karachi). University of Punjab (Lahore)
and Gomal University (D.I Khan are doing
admirable work for e-learning and
distance education (Haring, 2013). Aga
Khan University also offers distance
learning program for in-service teachers
beside it in the field of medical such as
Research Methodologies in Health
Professions Education for continuous
professional development (HEC, 2010).
Factors Influencing Effective e-
Learning in Pakistan:
Pakistan is an under developing country
with 57 percent literacy rate (FME,
Pakistan; 2012). Under-developing
countries are facing some major
challenges in e-learning and they are
following: Student support, Flexibility,
Teaching and Learning Activities, Access,
Academic confidence, Localization and
Attitudes (Anderson, 2008). Institutional
and technical infrastructure availability
along with support from administration,
colleagues and learners are integral
factors that bring positive effect on
integration of e-learning (Govindasamy,
2002) technology, teacher education and
skillfulness. Integrating eLearning
requires to offer diverse curriculum,
instructors' skillfulness and assessment
(deMaagd, 2011). Government should be
the stakeholder of eLearning while
considering it a long term investment and
for a fluent operation (deMaagd, 2011).
Access and Equity:-
Digital divide can't be filled with
availability of hardware and software or
by giving access to learner to Information
and Communication Technology (Dijk,
2000). It refers to big situation where gap
exist in English language learned and not
learned, rural versus urban, male versus
female, skilled versus unskilled,
developing versus under-developing
countries, is of great concern (Hameed
and Tahir, 2007). Although Pakistan being
an under-developing country still striving
to reduce the needs of the demographic
diversities but attitude among learners
(Farid, Niaz and Asghar,2014),
teachers(Nawaz and Miankheil,2011) has

3. been indicating that positive perception
is in the air of Pakistan.
Pakistan has tried to reduce the gap
through initiative of introducing
elearning in HEI (HEC, 2004). Decision of
7 IT university in Pakistan is also
landmark (Mujahid, 2002). Still
implication has not penetrated to school
level in public sector
Learners Characteristics:-
Despite of considering importance and
usefulness of information and
communication and technology as a time
saving method learners are avoiding it
mainly complaining for energy crisis and
technical support along with questionable
quality of hard-wares and software (Jamil,
Topping and Tariq,2012). Subject based
diversities has been found among
learners and their motivation level
towards information and communication
technology, learners of Arts department
found comparatively less attentive and
attractive, similarly gender diversity is
also present where girls in commerce
shown great interest comparison to the
girls of rest of the selected departments
(Jamil, Topping and Tariq,2012).
Teachers' Characteristics:-
Professional skillfulness of a teacher
ensures the success of elearning
(French,2004).eTeacher has to remain
updated about contemporary
requirements of individualized learning
because one model for all is not
applicable, eteacher has to walk diverse
dimensions and let learner to construct
their knowledge(Nawaz,2011).
Some teachers refuses the impact of
elearning on socialization of its users and
consider it just a tool of teaching rest of
the population of teachers declared their
agreement for ICT as influential tool and
elearning as an activity that will mode the
social skill of learners as well as of
teachers(Nawaz, 2011). Sad part is that
those whom are agreeing with the impact
of elearning are not practicing in their
daily days(Nawaz,2011).
Teacher Training is an issue in Pakistan,
trend is not admirable
(UNESCO,2013).Intel has taken initiative
of training teacher of public sector for ICT
skillfulness as well providing online
solution as well resources, up till date
300,000 (Intel,Pk:2013).}
Infrastructure:-
1. Technical
2. Institutional
eLearning requires technical and
institutional infrastructure(Mehra and
Mital, 2007). Lack of technical staff and
energy crisis has kept learners restricted
from eLearning opportunities (Jamil,
Topping and Tariq,2012). Technical and
Institutional issues in integration of
eLearning has restricted learners from
getting benefits of eLearning (Jamil,
Topping and Tariq,2012). For technical
training and development of ICT skill of
in-service certification programs are
offered at COMSATS(Mujahid,2002).

4. NUST, COMSATS, and FAST are providing
courses for technology management
(Mujahid, 2002). Accreditation Council
established for eLibraries with a stock of
research work and instructional materials
and IT-TRACK is another initiative to
fulfill needs of technical infrastructure
along with U2test.com (Mujahid, 2002). }
Content:-
Information Technology and hardware as
well software are declared an industry, a
tax exemption is now a days enjoyed on
every import of equipments and export of
developed goods as well as income tax
has been kept away in order to nourish
this industry(Mujahid,2002). AS an
initiative in content area a destination
named Apnafuture.com has been
launched to facilitate learners. Its an
address of learning hub for improving
vocabulary, downloadable material is also
available for learners assistance
References:-
1. Digital Opportunities Initiative for
Pakistan, Yousaf Haroon Mujahid EJISDC,
2002, 8, 6.
2. Metaphorical Interpretation of
eLearning in Higher Education
Institutions by Allah Nawaz JOURNAL OF
ADVANCES IN INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 3, NO. 1, FEBRUARY
2012
3. PERCEPTIONS OF UNIVERSITY
STUDENTS REGARDING COMPUTER
ASSISTED ASSESSMENT by Mubashrah
Jamil, K. J. Topping, and R. H. Tariq,
TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of
Educational Technology ? July 2012,
volume 11 Issue 3.
4. Six Principles of Effective e-Learning:
What Works and WhyBy Ruth Clark
,Learning Solutois eMagzine, sept, 2002.
5. Strengthening Education through ICT
in remote areas of Pakistan through
Intel® Education Initiative Case Study
Pakistan Intel® Teach Program, 2012.
6. Challenges of e-Teaching:
Contemporary Paradigms and Barriers,
Allah Nawaz, Najeebullah Khan and
Amanullah Miankheil, Research Journal of
Information Technology 3(2): 99-107,
2011
7. E-Learning, A Guidebook of
Principles, Procedures and Practices, Som
Naidu, 2006
8. A study of asynchronous and
synchronous elearning methods
discoevered that each support different
purposes , Stefan Hrastinski, 2008,
EDUCAUSE Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 4
(October?December 2008)
9. Seven major challenges for e-learning
in developing countries: Case study eBIT,
Sri Lanka, Annika Andersson,
International Journal of Education and
Development using Information and
Communication Technology (IJEDICT),
2008, Vol. 4, Issue 3, pp. 45-62.

5. 10. An Analysis of e-Learning Impacts &
Best Practices in Developing Countries,
Jennifer Olsonurt deMaagd1, Eric
Tarkleson3, Julie Sinclair2, Suengyun
Yook1 and Rhonda Egidio2, 2011
11. Aga Khan University (AKU) is offering
a course on ?Research Methodologies in
Health Professions Education? (HPE)
Course from February 15 to 26, 2010 by
HEC
12. Press Publication (Dr. Hafiz
Muhammad Inamullah) 2014, Director
Distance Education, University of
Peshawar.
13. ICT as an enabler of Socio-Economic
Development ,Tahir Hameed, School of
Engineering, Information &
Communications University, 305-732
14. Emerging roles of eTeacher in higher
education Allah Nawaz* and Amanullah
Khan Miankheil, International Journal of
Business Management and
Administration Vol. 2(1), pp. 008-014,
January 2013