elearning research paper last
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
E-Learning Research Paper
E-Learning in Higher Education Research Paper
Fatma Al-Azher Alhinai
Sultan Qaboos University
1
E-Learning Research Paper
Introduction
There has been a big shift in the political, social, economic, cultural and technological
developments that have occurred in the world in our time. E-learning has caused a revolution in
higher education in all countries due to its benefits in the learning process. It is proven to increase
knowledge retention by 25% to 60%.
The number of colleges and teachers that use electronic courses are increasing day by
day. For example, "4,600,00 college students are currently taking at least one of their classes
online and by 2014 this number will increase to 18,650,000. By 2019, half of all classes taught
will be delivered online"(Gutierrez, 2012).
I choose this topic because I think there is a great need to determine the status of E-
Learning in higher education institutions in the world generally and in Oman specifically to
improve the future of E-Learning in higher education. In addition, I want to know how E-
Learning impacts on education system in general.
This paper will discusses the E-Learning trend in learning systems and explain the trend
in relationship to Oman and other gulf countries. It will also outline the future of E-learning in
Oman.
2
E-Learning Research Paper
E-Learning in Learning System
E-learning is an online learning, which describes the use of “technologies to support
learning, teaching and assessment” (Vrazalic et al, 2009. Sometimes researcher use distance or
blended learning or online education to explain E-learning which all of them based on electronic
media to deliver information. E-Learning is a strange new word that was used for the first time in
a professional environment in October 1999 during a classroom based training systems seminar
in Los Angeles. The inventor of the word of "E-learning" was Jay Cross in 1998 ( 4 ).The
rational of its' invention was to satisfy the needs of different leaning styles and to help busy
students who have others tasks besides learning.
Online learning in higher education is increasing everyday due to the continue increasing
of students in higher education level and revolution of information. The stakeholders of this
research paper are students in higher education who are the consumers of E-learning
undergraduate or graduate students enrolled of all type of institutions.
There are other two global trends that are related to E-learning which are: new teaching
methods and open education resources. E-learning is a new teaching method and it has a positive
impact in output of learning system in term of students' academic achievements, skills and
attitude. In addition, E-learning provides open education resources. Students don't have specific
curriculum to limit themselves and their knowledge but they are free to learn from other
educational websites, videos, Wikipedia and educational blogs in anytime and anywhere (14).
Status of E-learning in some Gulf Countries
Lots of studies had shown that all gulf countries used E-learning but in different levels.
For example, Saudi Arabia is the most gulf country that use E-learning in higher education. E-
leaning estimated to grow about 33% during 2010-2014. The government spending millions for
3
E-Learning Research Paper
developing strategies, Academics trained in E-learning and providing the basic infrastructures of
E-learning ( AlMegren, 2011).
There are more than 12.3% of students in higher education took online courses ( Atallah
& Moussa, 2013). According to the study of "Emirati Student Voices on E-learning Readiness",
there was willingness on part of students to enroll in E-learning courses due to the flexibility of
time and location, and money saving.
There are more than 8% of students in higher education took online courses in Kuwait.
Also, all text books in Kuwait are digitized (15). The public and private sector of education use
E-learning in Kuwait because E-learning supports high quality of education, reduce
environmental impact through lower paper use and higher retention of information.
E-learning in Oman
There are more than 62% of higher education institutions offer at least one ICT major
and19% of the students who took online courses (8). For example, WebCT, Moodle, and e-
portals have been implemented at many educational institutions. Moreover, The Omani branch of
the Arab Open University is a full-fledged distance learning higher education institution (11) &
(19).
The location of E-leaning in education system is in process because it has taken by
instructors to alter the way of teaching instead of depending on traditional methods like face to
face. According to Al-Musawi (2007), he accentuated on the importance of using E-Learning as
an effective teaching method in higher and post basic education. Moreover, lifelong learning use
E-learning to support learning process. E-learning requires digitizing curriculum, electronic
device and qualifying teachers as input in learning system. It is also impacts on the quality of
output of education system in term of skills, knowledge and attitude of students . The purposes of
4
E-Learning Research Paper
education are to prepare Omani citizen to be able to deal with digital and technological tool
which are very close to the purpose of E-learning. It focuses also to build people with lifelong
learning which can be achieved by online learning (18).
Teachers training and Quality Assurance initiatives in E-learning
There are many conferences and training program that are doing for instructors before
and in the service to enhance the quality of teaching and to increase information and
communication technology (ICT) awareness (14 ). Moreover, there are more than 13 workshops
in SQU that were done for teacher before services to prepare them to use E-learning though their
teaching. IC3 and ICDL training program offered for all instructors in education to improve the
skills in this field. Generally, there is still poor of teachers training on using E-learning in our
country.
There were many initiatives of quality assurance in Oman. For example, there was much
research to measure the academic achievement of students who took online courses. Moreover,
there were more than 10000 free personal computers for all graduated students in 2010-2013 to
assured that material for E-learning are available for all students in higher education. Moreover,
there were many conferences that are done on this field to exchange the experience between
other countries.
SWOT analysis and the future implications of the trend
The strength of E-learning in Oman is found the way to the bigger number of students
who enrolled higher education each year without need to build new class. It has also, keeps
money of the hard copy of books because they are digitized. The weaknesses are teachers who
respond to students' question are less efficient than offline universities and this point is proven by
different research. The opportunities of E-learning are IT-proficient people can have better
opportunity for employment in private and public sector because most of universities work on E-
5
E-Learning Research Paper
learning. In addition, due to the E-learning infrastructure the internet speed has improved. The
threats of using E-learning in Oman are increase security breach and copyright issue. It has also,
Dependency on IT, i.e. small technical problems will disrupt the entire networks especially when
the network connected locally. The implication of E-learning in the future is: all levels of
educations either public or private institutions will be based on the online education. Moreover,
all books will be digitalized. Moreover, training programs for instructors and students in E-
learning will be online.
PEST analysis and the future implications of the trend
According to the political aspect of E-learning, there is political willingness to use it in
private and public institutions and there is a rapid conversation to improve strategies of E-
learning. There is public policy for all class to make the mission and vision of learning
institutions clear. In the economic aspects, instructors suffer from unemployment because the
number of teacher through online learning is less than face to face teaching. Low cost of Internet
Subscription and keep money of physical universities and hard copies of books and etc. The
social aspect of E-learning is clear from the view of some people who think it is less effective
than face to face. In technologies aspects, Dependency on small technical problems will disrupt
the entire networks. According to the implications of E-learning in the future, E-learning will not
be used only in education but also all political, economic, social institutions services will be
through online. E-leaning will be available.
Preferred future of E-learning and its implications
6
E-Learning Research Paper
The preferred future of E-learning will pay more attention to logical and critical thinking
because the learning will focus on the science subjects. It will also focus more on the students'
responsibility and learning will be based on learner center rather than teacher center. Students
will work on problem solving, projects and experiments. In addition, E-learning will encourage
the learner to construct meaning of knowledge in their won ways because the future of E-
learning prefers to work on constructivism learning theory. Moreover, different media used to
deliver information they will enhance the principles of engaged learning will becomes active,
collaborative, and support Mastery (13). For example, students will recognize what and how of
learning through content and process and that will support the meaningful of learning. Students
will be engaged in the E-learning environment that fosters an active learning, employs
appropriate learning technologies and reward innovation. For example, instructor will prepare
tutorial with pre and post-test to measure the previous knowledge of students and provide them
with glossary to make sure the words are clear to students.
Conclusion
Information society development is influenced by global trend like integration of ICT. E-
Learning exploits interactive technologies and communication systems to improve the learning
experience. It has the potential to transform the way we teach and learn across the board. It can
raise standards, and widen participation in lifelong learning. It cannot replace teachers and
lecturers, but alongside existing methods it can enhance the quality and reach of their teaching.
E-learning had impact on all education system elements, quality and teacher training. Due to
positives impact of E-learning in learning process most countries now are working on developing
the plan of the future of E-learning.
7
E-Learning Research Paper
References
8
E-Learning Research Paper
1. AlMegren, A. (2011). Status of e-Learning at Several Major Universities in Saudi
Arabia. In Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government,
Healthcare, and Higher Education 2011 (pp. 1022-1028). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
2. Al-Musawi, Ali Sharaf and Abdelraheem, Ahmed Yousif (2004). E-learning at Sultan
Qaboos University: status and future. British Journal of Educational Technology, 35, 3,
363-367.
3. Al-Musawi, A. (2007). Current Status of Educational Technologies at Omani Higher
Education Institutions and Their Future Perspectives, Educational Technology Research
and Development, 55(4), 395–410; retrieved on 03.10.2009, available at:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/8172068r2rn02756
4. Atallah, F. & Moussa-Inaty, J. (2013). Emirati Student Voices on E-learning Readiness.
In T. Bastiaens & G. Marks (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on E-Learning in
Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education 2013 (pp. 1730-1736).
Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
5. Gutierrez, k. (2012) 18 Mind-Blowing ELearning Statistics You Need To Know.
Retrieved on 9/5/2014 http://info.shiftelearning.com/blog/bid/247473/18-Mind-Blowing-
eLearning-Statistics-You-Need-To-Know
6. Mubarak M Alkharang and George Ghinea, “E-learning in Higher Educational
Institutions in Kuwait: Experiences and Challenges” International Journal of Advanced
Computer Science and Applications (IJACSA), 4(4), 2013. Available at:
http://dx.doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2013.040401
9
E-Learning Research Paper
7. Vrazalic, L., MacGregor, R., Behl, D., & Fitzgerald, J. (2009). E-learning barriers in the
United Arab Emirates: Preliminary results from an empirical investigation. Ibima
Business Review, 4, 1-7, p.1.
8. Sultanate of Oman Progress Report on the Information Society 2003 – 2013.Retrived on
13/5/2013.WWW.ITR.GOV.OM
9. http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/E-learning retrieved retrieved in 9/5/2014
News:
10. Oman Observer (2013). Study on e-learning in Oman’s higher education. Oman Observer
newspaper. Retrieved on 1.5.2014, available at: http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=1786
11. Al Kindi , S. GCC states discuss scope of e-learning. Oman Tribune newspaper.
Retrieved on 1.5.2014, available at: http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?
page=news&id=103613&heading=Oman
12. Sarah. (2014). A hybrid online-learning model in the offing. Oman Observer newspaper.
Retrieved on 1.5.2014, available at: http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=51347
13. Oman Observer. (2014). Education and the competencies of the Twenty First Century
symposium. Oman Observer newspaper. Retrieved on 1.5.2014, available at:
http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=16333
10
E-Learning Research Paper
Educational website:
14. Deanship of E-Learning and Distance Education at king Abdul-Aziz University.
Retrieved on 25.4.2014, available at: http://elearning.kau.edu.sa/Default.aspx?
Site_ID=214&Lng=EN
15. E-learning bage at Sultan Qaboos University. Retrieved on 25.4.2014, available at:
http://moodle.squ.edu.om/
16. Alkhalaf, s. (2010). Assessing E-Learning Systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s
Higher Education Sector: An exploratory analysis. Retrieved on 25.4.2014, available
at:
http://www.academia.edu/941587/Assessing_eLearning_Systems_in_the_Kingdom_of_S
audi_Arabias_Higher_Education_Sector_An_exploratory_analysis
17. Oman Arab University in Oman. Retrieved on 20.4.2014, available at:
https://www.arabou.edu.kw/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=110&Itemid=426&lang=ar
18. Education portal in Oman. Retrieved on 22.4.2014, available at:
http://www.moe.gov.om/Portal/sitebuilder/Sites/EPS/Arabic/IPS/main/otherthing/
elearn.aspx
11