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The technological revolution of the twenty-first century has speedy developments that affect various aspects such as the economic and social fields. In addition, the field of education has been affected by technological changes and the information revolution. In this specific field, the most prominent changes is the need to integrate computers and information and communication technologies (ICTs) in teaching and learning processes to create active educational environments and to achieve desired learning objectives. In order to keep abreast of these developments and changes in the field of education, teachers reviewed and reflected on their previous teaching practices. As a result, they started changing their traditional teaching practices that focused on teacher-centered education that may ignore student's role as an active learner. Therefore, teachers should employ new teaching strategies that keep well-informed modern developments and rely on the use of educational computer, and activate the use of e-learning in their teaching practices (Obydat & Abo Sameed, 2015).
E-Learning Definition
According to Malah (2010) e-learning is one of the most important ICT applications in the field of education. E-learning has witnessed a huge and rapid development. This specific application relies on the availability of ICT tools such as computer and Internet. Dumos (2008) demonstrated that e-learning is the use of modern technologies associated with computers and Internet; to achieve learning objectives in less time and effort and to gain greater benefits. Further, Radi (2010) pointed out that e-learning is the use of ICTs to build, enhance, and facilitate learning process anywhere, and at any time. With same sense, Saeed (2008) considered e-learning as a term that combines aspects of learning, Internet, web-based training, and teaching with technology. Omari (2009) added that e-learning is a technical education system that stimulates and motivates the learner. According to Salem (2014) e-learning is a modern educational system that offers academic courses, educational and training programs by modern ICT tools, to individuals in their places and at any time. In sum, the researchers consider e-learning as a modern educational tool that enables and motivates learners, under teacher's supervision, to acquire knowledge, and to transfer what has been learned to other educational events. Using such a tool can exceed the limits of time and space, through the use of modern ICT related applications.
E-learning has many forms such as synchronous learning (direct) and asynchronous learning (indirect). The term of synchronous learning is used to illustrate teaching and learning processes that occur at the same time, but in different places. During applying this form, teacher and students should use ICTs to conduct a discussion, conversation, and dialogue in the chat rooms between teacher and students and between students themselves (Awawdah, 2012). That is, teacher and students should have several technological skills that enable them to use modern technologies such as whiteboards, chat rooms, and audio and video conferences (Saeed, 2008). However, the asynchronous learning does not require the presence of learners and teacher at the same time or in the same place, but it is done through using ICT tools such as e-mail, where teacher and students can exchange information and knowledge between them at different times and from different places (Hawamdeh, 2011).