Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century - Web-Based Engineering Education: Critical Design and Effective Tools - page 34

E. Accuracy and relevance e-learning and growing environments that are far

better than would otherwise occur. E-Learning
although is a growing trend in the education com-
munity Given all its merits, however, institutions
considering this option should be aware of the
particulars of Web-based training. With proper
planning, implementation, and maintenance, you
can create an optimal e-Learning environment at
your institution that benefits both the academic
institution and students.
In the following sections, different components
and influences that impact on the magnitude of
students and faculty's accumulation of and han-
dling of knowledge is discussed.

Information shared through e-learning should
be accurate and appropriate. Instructors should
employ measures (usually by direct contact with
learners, but also by assessments such as surveys)
to ensure that the content provided in the course is
appropriate to learning needs. The course content
should be reviewed regularly to ensure accuracy
and relevance.
Several considerations must be taken into ac-
count for e-learning to be a beneficial investment
and an effective knowledge management tool.
The elements of the e-learning planning process
include assessing and preparing organizational
readiness (factors to consider before going online),
determining the appropriate content (content that
ties into the goals of knowledge management),
determining the appropriate presentation modes
(considering factors contributing to effective e-
learning), and implementing e-learning (content
and technology infrastructure considerations).
In academic institutions, ideally, both stu-
dents and faculty should be provided with an
e-learning environment that is optimal for each
to be inspired to do the best job possible. For the
student, the objective is to accumulate and learn
as much knowledge as their personal make up
will allow. The faculty must be stimulated and
inspired to be outstanding faculty members for
the students and to simultaneously grow profes-
sionally as rapidly as their personal abilities will
allow. This is a complex environment to build
as each individual involved will have different
needs and hence different emphasis need to be
placed on various components that make up the
environment. No doubt it is impossible to provide
the optimal e-learning environment for all indi-
viduals among the students and the faculty. It is
important however to give considerable attention
to this problem and to build the best e-learning
environment possible with the financial resources
available to the academic institution. Planning
and faculty discussions make it possible to build

3. tEAcHIng cuLturE

The development of a suitable teaching culture
is a prerequisite of the academic world, once the
principle to “have learned to learn” has been pro-
moted. On the other hand, the development of the
concept of sustainable employability determines
that the university trains people to become future
professionals with basic competences: cognitive,
social and affective, allowing them to achieve
creative and effective professional performances in
quick-change work environment (Oprean, 2006).
Boyer states that:

“...without the teaching function, the continu-
ity of knowledge will be broken and the store
of human knowledge dangerously diminished”
(Boyer, 1990).

Teaching is not a process of transmitting knowl-
edge to the student, but must be recognized as a
process of continuous learning for both the lecturer
and student. The old adage, if you want to know
something teach it, certainly applies. But it needs
to be extended (Al-Jumaily & Stonyer, 2000).
The most obvious and instantaneous effect of
development of suitable culture can be considered
as improving the classroom environment and