A Delphi investigation into the future of e-learning

The purpose of this study is to investigate the views and opinions of e-learning experts regarding the replacement of traditional education with e-learning settings and the advantages that the application of social and mobile technologies can bring to e- learning methods. The Delphi technique was chosen as a method of study. This technique is an efficient and effective group communication process designed to systematically elicit judgments from experts in their selected area of expertise. The 35 experts that participated in the study were asked to rate 16 statements according to what they think will probably happen (probability) and what they would like to see happen (desirability). Findings show that the majority of experts foresee as highly probable and highly desirable that the use of new technologies in e-learning will change current educational theories and methodologies and that e-learning instructors will have to acquire a new set of skills in order to succeed in the e-learning field. In addition, findings show that the majority of experts believe it is highly probable and highly desirable that social technologies may improve e-learning experience as they create an atmosphere of cooperation and easy interaction among users and that mobile technologies emphasize the convenience and flexibility of e-learning offered by the “anytime, anywhere” concept.