Eliciting Specification for a Web-Based Distance-Learning System from Lecturers and Students in Malaysia

We have reviewed the existing web-based distance-learning systems and have performed a
research survey among the undergraduate distance-learning students and lecturers of the Open
University Malaysia (OUM). Here we report the findings that emerged from both
investigations. The main focus was to elicit specifications for a web-based distance-learning
system from the main users of a distance-learning program (i.e. the actual lecturers and
students). The features compiled from the existing systems were used as a checklist for them to
specify their needs and preferences of the features, at the same time giving them the
opportunity to specify any other features that they required for a web-based distance-learning
system. This revealed a list of required functions together with their preference ratings and a
list of non-functional requirements, specified by the lecturers and students. The analysis of the
investigations also discovered those features which were important to the students and lecturers
but were not well supported by the existing systems. Research efforts towards implementing
these less-supported features are suggested. (Authors' abstract)