Prioritizing the components of e-learning systems by using fuzzy DEMATEL and ANP

Abstract

Institutions and universities have started using e-learning systems to reach the potential students from all over the world by decreasing costs of investments. The speed of technological developments increases the importance of e-learning systems and their technology-based components. E-learning systems also decrease the costs of both institutions and students with effective learning way. But, the main problem of e-learning systems is that investment to the right and demanded components is important to actualize cost benefits. The main aim of this study is to analyze the relations of the components of e-learning systems and prioritize them in detail for stakeholders. To solve this problem in this study, causal relations among the components are analyzed by using fuzzy DEMATEL. After determining the causal relations, importance and priorities of the components are calculated according to these relations with the help of fuzzy analytic network process. The application includes 19 components of e-learning systems under three main cluster as e-learning, education and technology. The results of this study supports that the most important components of e-learning systems are technology-based components and these are also the most affected and affecting components of the e-learning systems.