An e-learning comparative alignment framework

Diane Newton, Southern Cross University
Allan Ellis, Southern Cross University

Abstract

Researching the factors influencing e-learning effectiveness is a complex and contentious task due to the dynamic, complex and interrelated factors in education and training environments. A recent major study of the Australian Army’s use of e-learning courses approached the understanding of e-learning effectiveness factors by aligning multiple perspectives across e-learning activities. A model was proposed that highlights that e-learning effectiveness was framed primarily in terms of the alignment of the e-learning culture with the organisational culture. This paper presents the development of an E-learning Comparative Alignment Framework (ECAF) based on this model. This framework provides a scaffold and a comparative analysis approach for understanding e-learning effectiveness factors from multiple perspectives across an organisation. The practical and theoretical implications of the ECAF are discussed.