Foundations of cultural design in e-learning

This paper is an attempt to discuss foundational issues for designing e-learning that are sensitive to specific social and cultural settings in developing countries. We argue that recognising cultural diversity is a critical factor in design and use of e-learning as an instrument to promote development in a globalisation perspective. Drawing on contemporary research literature, the paper explores basic notions of culture; models of cultural diversity; cultural considerations in designing and using ICT in e-learning; and models and dimensions of cultural diversity in education and e-learning. We also characterise some common traits in Eastern, particularly Iranian, pedagogical cultures.