Determining Critical Success Factors for an Online Laboratory Learning System Using Delphi Method

Abstract

To prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, governments have been forced to stop offering educational services directly on campus. Thus, education has moved towards a new path; homes have been transformed into online educational classes through Learning Management Systems (LMS). Despite the many advantages of LMS such as availability, accessibility, and usability, which helps to monitor student learning and manage synchronous and asynchronous learning tools, there are many challenges facing students of applied disciplines such as sciences, engineering, and technology. Among these challenges are the following: how can laboratory experiments be conducted from a distance? How can students’ achievement be measured while conducting their scientific experiment tasks? The current study aimed to reach design criteria for a new system for managing a virtual learning laboratory system (LLS). The Delphi method was used to obtain the opinions of experts and those interested in the field of e-learning design. The responses of (31) experts were analyzed using NVivo software, then the results were analyzed using statistical methods to rank them according to importance through three rounds. The results revealed that the criteria for applying artificial intelligence mechanisms, content management systems through virtual machine, assessment, and accessibility through cloud computing are among the key criteria for designing LLS for science, engineering, and technology disciplines.