Identifying and categorization of e-learning system's characteristics based on the Kano model in Iran's virtual universities

Nowadays, widespread use of modern technology and as a result, the need to further education followed by higher costs, has led educational centers and companies to use educational modern solutions. One of these solutions is electronic education, known as E-learning. The purpose of this study is to identify and categorize the characteristics of a desirable E-Learning system from the viewpoint of Virtual Iranian Universities’ students based on the Kano model.

This developmental study was conducted on all graduate and undergraduate students of 17 active university E-learning centers in Iran from January to March 2012. Totally, 459 subjects were selected from among 17 virtual Iranian educational centers using simple random sampling method. Excel software and frequency table weighted mean were used to analyze the Kano model.

Effective designing, high quality of internet, and easy use factors are respectively the most effective basic factors in creating satisfaction among university students. Likewise, the factors like the lack of anxiety, interaction with lesson contents, self-exploitation, interaction with other university students and masters, and variety in evaluation are respectively the most practical factors effective on the level of students’ satisfaction. Moreover, factors of students attitude, flexibility in offering educational content, the quality of educational content, teachers’ attitude and their timely answers are respectively the most the important motivational factors affecting the level of students satisfaction.

According to the fact that factors like student’s attitude, flexibility in offering educational content, the quality of educational content, teachers’ attitude and their punctual answers are among the most important motivational factors for students, E-learning (electronic education) institutes must more emphasize on these factors.