Barriers of E-learning Quality Improvement in Iranian Agricultural Higher Education

The objective of this survey research was to analyze barriers of E-learning quality improvement in Iranian agricultural higher education. Statistical population of the study consisted of 65 faculty members (N1=65) and graduate students of Iranian agricultural colleges (N2=8541), out of which 286 students were selected as sample using Cochran formula and proportionate stratified sampling technique. Data were collected by questionnaires developed for the study. Validity of the questionnaires was approved by a panel of experts. In order to measure reliability of the questionnaires, Cronbach Alpha coefficients was calculated (α = 0.95 for faculty member's questionnaire and α2= 0.92 for student's questionnaire). Results of prioritizing barriers of quality improvement of E-learning showed that the three most important barriers were slow internet speed, lack of necessary hardware infrastructure and lack of necessary software infrastructure (as perceived by faculty members); and slow internet speed, lack of necessary software infrastructure (such as appropriate educational softwares), and lack of necessary support system during the implementation of E-learning courses (as perceived by students). Also, results of discovery factor analysis showed that as perceived by faculty members, five factors explained about 77.88 percent of variations: education- information, support, infrastructure, financial- policy and skill; and as perceived by students, five factors explained about 62.62 percent of variations: communication – policy, education – skill, infrastructure, financial- support and psychological.