Extend of e-learning at universities of technology - our strength for our future?

Abstract

The current status of e-learning implementation at the Universities of Technology (UoTs) in South Africa is explored in terms of specific aspects of teaching and learning. In this study the process categories, dimensions and perspectives for the benchmarking of e-learning of the e-maturity model (eMM) of Marshall (2005), the Pick & Mix benchmarking of Bacsich (2009), the six dimensional approach (HELAM) of Ozkan and Koseler (2009), the six dimensions of Sun, Tsai, Finger et al (2008), the benchmarking of the Australasian Council for Open, Distance and E-learning (ACODE) and the six areas for the dotLRN environment of Ellis and Calvo (2007) are compared and a six dimension approach, called SILSTI, is identified as base for the benchmarking of the implementation of e-learning at universities. Aspects of these dimensions were investigated at UoTs by means of a questionnaire. The results are discussed according to the six dimensions. A conclusion is then reached on the level of e-learning implementation at UoTs in South Africa and areas for further research are recommended.