Exploring female academic perceptions and practices utilising learning and communication technology in the Languages Faculty at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia

Alhudaithy, Hana

Abstract

High-quality education and more effectively supported learning can be achieved through the appropriate use of efficient, effective, and appropriate technology. Indeed, such enhancement of the education system is the primary objective of educational technology. Thus, the present study explores the perceptions of Saudi female tutors at King Khalid University (KKU) in Saudi Arabia regarding the adoption of Learning and Communication Technology (LCT) by the higher education sector. In addition, it examines the impact of these perceptions on the teaching practices of participant academic members who were enrolled in the College of Languages and Translation.

A mixed-method research design was adopted to safeguard against the inherent limitations associated with the use of a single approach. Moreover, a broader and more generalisable set of quantitative data was also used to affirm the reliability and validity of the present study and, moreover, to counter the disadvantages of the qualitative focus.

The findings of the data analysis showed that most of female academics who participated in the study tended to use various tools and educational technology in their language-learning classes. The results also showed that participant academics’ utilisation of LCT was positively affected by a set of factors like for instance, ease of use, usefulness, student reactions, and motivation. However, the results indicated that the effective utilisation of LCT by academic members participating in the study was inhibited by a group of factors such as the fact that methods which might work with some students would not necessarily work with others in the same context, and so there was a need to use both kinds of teaching, traditional and technology based. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the failure among female participant academics to move away from traditional methods of teaching towards the use of LCT was often due to a number of factors including a lack of facilities, lack of support mainly for junior academics, and lack of female technicians to help in solving technological problems on the female campus, in addition to a set of cultural issues related to the privacy of females.

In light of these findings, the present study hopes to contribute to the research literature by shedding light on academics' perceptions about the level of LCT utilisation in Saudi higher education institutions, on one hand, and on their teaching practices using LCT in various contexts. It also hopes to help people in charge at universities and policy-makers in Saudi Arabia to plan carefully for successful investment in education besides the positive and expected returns on education for the whole society.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Dec 3, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 28, 2021
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/4755639
• Award Date: Jan 28, 2021