The UK MoD is undertaking a major investment in e-learning, with the Defence Learning Portal (DLP) implemented at the start of 2005. A recent internal review of Defence training proposed that approximately 20% of classroom-based specialist training be converted to e-learning over a five year period. For this proposal to be realised, a large number of training specialists will be required to evaluate the suitability of individual courses or course components for conversion to e-learning. Since relatively few of the training specialists concerned have detailed experience or training in the application or development of e-learning, it was clear that guidance and support would have to be provided to these specialists to ensure that selection decisions were made in a systematic, valid manner with documented steps for future reference.

This paper focuses on the identification of the key decision factors for selecting e-learning and the development of detailed guidance for applying those decision factors at a project level. Following a review of media selection theory, seven key decision factors were identified. These criteria were then further elaborated in order to develop detailed sets of questions to facilitate systematic information gathering. Critical dependencies between factors were also identified and elaborated to produce a model of these interrelationships. In the final part of the paper, a brief overview is provided of how the elaborated key decision factors and the interrelationship model were integrated into a spreadsheet-based, decision support tool.