E-Learning Implementation in Higher Education: Aspects of Infrastructure Development Challenges and Students Learning Approaches

Abstract

Successful implementation of e-learning in any field of study depends largely on the development and deployment of learning materials using the right infrastructure. In education, there is the need to grant and have access to resources for enhanced learning that would lead to acquisition of the right type of knowledge for gainful employment in industries. E-Learning promotes individual and flexible approach to learning through the use of the right type of infrastructure to facilitate teaching, learning, research and the right type of pedagogy. The infrastructure for e-learning deployment in higher education in advanced countries seemed to be well established compared to those available in developing nations. This paper examines some of the challenges faced by education providers in developing countries in infrastructure development and deployment. These are compared to some of the instances in advanced countries. We investigate the different approaches adopted by students for learning from the perspectives of fully online and blended modes. This paper presents some of the reasons given by learners for engaging in online studies, and also report on suggested ways of addressing the challenges faced by both the teachers and learners in relation to infrastructure development and improvement of education utilizing e-learning.