Impact of Technological Inputs on Quality of E-learning products: A Review

As the world shifts from the industrial era to the knowledge era, e-learning is gaining prominence as the preferred method for use in pedagogical education and informal training. Embracing this advance boasts numerous advantages but care must be taken to preserve the aspect of meaningful learning. E-learning systems are built upon technology scaffold (input) however; the focus should never deviate from the purpose of the tool (output) that is a learning experience through use of the tool. Technology from an e-learning perspective refers to the combination of hardware, software and the supporting infrastructure (i.e. internet or intranet and related support service provision). Technology enables e-learning however, learning will not take place in the absence of the learner, the learners aptitude and their specific needs. A successful e-learning experience is largely dependent on how the e-learning tool's quality factors enhance its usability. The e-learning tool should ideally possess a number of features that will make the users experience enjoyable. It is important to note that technical difficulties, faults and glitches can serve to discourage users from the continued use of a software system. This paper reviews the impact of technology on the quality in the development process of e-learning tools.