Eight tips for implementing e-learning

Advice to a Vice Chancellor starting to implement e-learning
Implementing e-learning in a university needs to be well planned and fully supported by the Chief Executive Officer of the university. Below are some tips for planning the implementation:

1. Begin by reflecting on your university's vision for e-learning: This is important for developing buy in and ownership at all levels of the university. It will also help to create an understanding on the type of e-learning - fully online, blended, self study,  or other. This stage is also about change management.
2. Carry out an e-learning readiness review: This is some kind of SWOT analysis. A critical review of ICT infrastructure, staff skills, student skills, attitudes, etc will be part of this.
3. Develop an e-learning strategy and e-learning policy: This will help the university to articulate the road map for e-learning and explain "why e-learning". An e-learning strategy will support resource mobilization for e-learning and force the university to prioritize a budget for e-learning. The e-learning policy will address issues such as the incentives for faculty staff.
4. Draw up an e-learning implementation plan: This is the "how to, when, how much and who document". It is a commitment to operationalizing the e-learning strategy.
5. Identify e-learning champions that will preach the gospel. Since e-learning would be new - there is a need to use the converted to preach to the unconverted.
6. Plan and implement an e-learning awareness campaign to de-mysify e-learning and provide information on the e-learning strategy.
7. Learn from those universities that have succeeded with e-learning implementation: It is very important to organize learning visits to universities that have implemented e-learning. This will help the university not to reinvent the wheel.
8. Commit to a review and monitoring strategy: Learning and feeding back lessons to improve e-learning is very important for the maturity of e-learning in the university.

This advice is based on my personal experiences working in an African Higher Institution of Education. Your feedback is most welcome.