A Framework for Evaluating and Selecting Learning Technologies

This paper considers some of the major issues in the field of learning technology selection. It presents a framework towards the development of selection criteria that aim at improving technology selection process to avoid the technological problems. The variables like gender, age, and race of the participants are not examined. To find out the criteria, which have high impact on learning technology selection, three groups (faculties, IT specialists & students) and two control groups (faculties working as IT specialists & students working as IT specialists) are selected from three Gulf universities (Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain University and Kuwait University). Initially, 19 criteria are used; the groups’ independent opinion is collected for analysis and organized according to the weighted average. The top criteria (over mean) are retained and the others are canceled. Seven criteria show high impact on learning technology selection process in general. These criteria are feedback capability, student/instructor satisfaction, student motivation and self-learning, ease of access, use and revision, professional development, usability and reliability and instructional time. Keyword: Learning technology, technology selection criteria. Received October 31, 2005; accepted March 4, 2006