Abstract
Cultural values have a major influence on learning. For learning to be effective, it must be adapted to the cultural context in which it takes place. e-Learning neither eliminates cultural differences nor is it culture free. The qualitative and quantitative findings of this study show two very distinct learning patterns. East Asian participants represent a high-context emphasis. South Asians and Europeans indicate a demonstrably low-context style of learning. The qualitative findings provide evidence that cultural features do have an impact on e-learning behaviors. European participants tend to be individualistic, achievement oriented, and emphasize learning by induction. South Asians reveal high power distance and also an achievement orientation. East Asians also demonstrate high power distance as indicated by a teacher-centric focus. They emphasize affiliation and avoid high uncertainty in learning situations. East Asians tend to prefer theory as the starting point for analysis. The quantitative analysis shows significant differences between the regional groups. East Asians are significantly more involved and active in e-learning than their peers in Europe and South Asia. This suggests that the high-context learning culture has a positive influence on e-learning involvement.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Al-Huwail, N., Al-Sharhan, S., & Al-Hunaiyyan, A. (2007). Learning design for a successful blended e-learning environment: Cultural dimensions. Journal of Computer Science, 6(4), 60–69.
Adeoye, B., & Wentling, R. (2007). The relationship between national culture and the usability of an e-learning system. International Journal on E-Learning, 6(1), 119–146.
Aggarwal, A., & Makkonen, P. (2009). Critical success factors for successful globalized e-learning. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 6(1), 92–109.
Agourram, H., & Mansour, M. (2007). E-Learning effectiveness and culture. In T. Bastiaens & S. Carliner (Eds.), Proceedings of world conference on e-learning. Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Bechter, C., & Esichaikul, V. (2005). Personalisation in e-learning (pp. 141–149). Proceedings of international conference on management education in the 21st century. HCMC, Vietnam.
Boshier, R., Wilson, M., & Qayyum, A. (1999). Lifelong education and the World Wide Web: American hegemony or diverse utopia? International Journal of Lifelong Education, 18(4), 275–285.
Dunn, P., & Marinetti, A. (2002). Cultural adaptation: Necessity for global e-learning. Retrieved May 20, 2008 from http://www.linezine.com/7.2/articles/pdamca.htm.
Edmundson, A. (2006). Globalized e-learning cultural challenges. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Information Science Publishing.
Edmundson, A. (2005). The cross-cultural dimensions of globalized e-learning. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, 1(2), 47–61.
Hamid, A. A. (2002). E-learning – is it the ‘e’ or the learning that matters. Internet and Higher Education, 4, 311–316.
Hermeking, M. (2005). Culture and internet consumption: Contributions from cross-cultural marketing and advertising research. Journal of Computer-Mediated Research, 11(1), 192–216.
Hofstede, G. (2008). A summary of my ideas about national culture differences. Retrieved May 20, 2008 from http://feweb.uvt.nl/center/hofstede/page3.htm.
Hofstede, G. (1997). Culture and organizations. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Holden, N. (2004). Why marketers need a new concept of culture for the global knowledge economy. International Marketing Review, 21(6), 563–572.
Huang, L. (2008). Adoption of E-learning Systems in Organizations in China. In J. Fong, R. Kwan, & F. L. Wang (Eds.), Hybrid Learning a New Frontier (pp. 176–181). Hong kong: City University of Hong kong.
La Ferle, C., Edwards, S. M., & Yutaka, M. (2002). Internet diffusion in Japan: Cultural considerations. Journal of Advertising Research, 42(2), 65–79.
Leki, I. (1992). Understanding ESL writers: A guide for teachers. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook.
Lindblom-Ylänne, S., Trigwell, K., Nevgi, A., & Ashwin, P. (2006). How approaches to teaching are affected by discipline and teaching context. Studies in Higher Education, 31(3), 285–298.
Mcpaerson, M., & Nunes, J. (2008). Critical issues for e-learning delivery: What may seem obvious is not always put into practice. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 24(5), 433–445.
Mushtaha, A., & De Troyer, O. (2007). Cross-cultural understanding of context and interface in the context of e-learning systems. In N. Aykin (Ed.), Usability and internationalization Part 1 (pp. 164–173). Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag.
Nevgi, A., Nishimura, S., & Tella, S. (2008). The effect of high context/low context culture to university teachers use of ICT’s in teaching and to teaching approaches in Finland, Japan and India. Conference paper London SOTL 7th international conferences. London, UK
Richardson, R. M., & Smith, S. W. (2007). The influence of high/low-context culture and power distance on choice of communication media: Students’ media choice to communicate with professors in Japan and America. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 21, 479–501.
Russ, M., & Dick, R. (2007). The effectiveness of e-learning and the impact of culture: Early findings. Proceedings EMCIS 2007.
Smith, A., Dunckley, L., French, T., Minocha, S., & Chang, Y. (2004). A process model for developing usable cross-cultural websites. Interacting with Computers, 16, 63–91
Steyn, D., & Cronjé, J. (2006). Interpreting cross-cultural blended teaching and learning along Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. Proceedings of e/merge, Pretoria, South Africa.
Trompenaars, F., & Hampden-Turner, C. (1997). Riding the waves of culture: Understanding diversity in global business (2nd ed.). Burr Ridge, IL: McGraw-Hill.
Wagner, N., Hassanein, K., & Head, M. (2008). Who is responsible for e-learning success in higher education? Educational Technology & Society, 11(3), 26–36.
Würtz, E. (2005). A cross-cultural analysis of websites from high context cultures and low-context cultures. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 11(1).
Würtz, E. (2004). Intercultural communication on websites: An analysis of visual communication of high- and low-context cultures (pp. 109–122). Proceedings of the 4th international conference on cultural attitudes towards technology and communication. Murdoch, Western Australia.
Zaharris, P., Vassilopoulou, K., & Poulymenakou, A. (2001). Designing on-line learning courses: Implications for usability. Retrieved May 20, 2008 from http://www.japit.org
Zahir, S., Dobing, B., & Hunter, M. (2002). Cross cultural dimensions of internet portals. Internet Research, 12(3), 210–220.
Zhou, X. (2008). Cultural dimensions and framing the internet in China. International Communication Gazette, 70(2), 117–136.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Swierczek, F.W., Bechter, C. (2010). Cultural Features of e-Learning. In: Spector, J., Ifenthaler, D., Isaias, P., Kinshuk, Sampson, D. (eds) Learning and Instruction in the Digital Age. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1551-1_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1551-1_18
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1550-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1551-1
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)