The revolutionary advance in communication, Information technology, e-commerce, multimedia and digital appliances together with the wide availability of hardware to mainstream users has changed the way we live and penetrated every aspect of our day to day life. The rapid increase in Internet coverage with broadband more than doubling each year. More and more users are reaching the Internet using hand-held devices, depending on location based services and sharing digital content through multiple approaches. Younger generations are becoming knowledgeable about technology and using it shamelessly in their routine activities.

However, the adoption of technology has been very slow in educational institutions, has not matched the pace of development or the availability of potential applications. A problem that is depriving the education from very important learning resources.

E-learning represents an innovative shift in the field of learning, providing rapid access to specific knowledge and information. It offers online instruction that can be delivered anytime and anywhere through a wide range of electronic learning solutions such as Web-based courseware, online discussion groups, video and audio streaming, Web chat, online simulations, and virtual mentoring. It enables organizations to transcend distance and other organizational gaps by providing a cohesive virtual learning environment.

E-learning has reached a turning point where learning payoffs can be accelerated. It is also believed that this moment could be fleeting because, without deliberate efforts to coordinate e-learning approaches, we will miss the opportunity to provide effective support for the convergence of learning and technology. The rising tide of sophisticated information and communications technologies driving this shift will not stop rather it will evolve. The pace with which technology is changing is very fast to keep with and we should catch up with.

This has led the kingdom to adopt e-learning as a strategic plan, on all levels of education. With many projects taking effects and lots of others in the pipelines. Qassim University has been one of the first to begin e-learning.