Evaluation model for applying an e-learning system in a course: An analytic hierarchy process-multi-choice goal programming approach

With the widespread use of the Internet, adopting e-learning systems in courses has gradually become more and more important in universities in Taiwan. However, because of limitations of teachers' time, selecting suitable online IT tools has become very important. This study proposes an analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-multi-choice goal programming (MCGP) evaluation model as a decision aid to help decision makers obtain appropriate online IT tools considering the time limitations of teachers and students. To demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method, this study implements the evaluation model in computer courses at a university in central Taiwan. For different purposes, teachers can set different time limitations and aspiration levels for each goal to rank the range of possible IT tools. With the AHP-MCGP evaluation model, teachers can find the most suitable time for the allocation of possible IT tools in the e-learning system to improve students' learning practice.