1) The study aimed to understand current and future views on educational technology (ET) in Omani higher education institutions to identify challenges and improve ET use.
2) Questionnaires were distributed to 159 ET specialists, administrators, and staff at public and private institutions to understand abilities, impediments, and frequency of ET use.
3) The findings showed no significant differences in views based on job, qualifications, or institution type. However, faculty had more instructional software design experience while PhDs were more able to use instructional software.
Conceptual framework provides the steps in planning and implementing tracer studies on the alumni of engineering institutions. One can update the curriculum, improve the instructional methods, etc.
A presentation of the study I propose to complete for my dissertation. This is an initial presentation for a research class. The full proposal presentation will be completed in Spring 2010. Any suggestions are always welcome :)
THE RATIONALE AND FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING THE ICT USE IN TEACHER EDUCATION D...DrGavisiddappa Angadi
This study investigated that the quantity of computer and ICT use in teacher education institutions is less and it is mainly focused on the learning of ICT skills which takes optimum time computers are used. The framework is then improved towards a new framework that can be effectively used to evaluate information and communication technology use in pre-service teacher education. In this study the independent variables are derived from computer use within the institution, some other extraneous factor may have impact on the results. Those factors may be computer use at home, friends home and cyber or internet centers by the respondents. The study concludes that the reality rhetoric gap of the impact of ICTs in teacher education institutions be evaluated from periodically to ensure that the quality with program objectives are met. The result shows that there is an urgent need to conduct intensive training to all the teacher educators in the colleges of education. The curriculum developers should develop global content for serving the local needs and make it to available to all the colleges of education online as well as offline content or blended learning modules. Several factors have been cited as responsible for low quantity of computer use in colleges of education. Some of these factors are; attitude towards new technologies, poor management, lack of local content serving local needs, shortage of equipments.
Academic Staff Development in the Area of Technology Enhanced Learning in UK ...eLearning Papers
This paper reports on a study on staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that took place in November, 2011. Data for this study were gathered via an online survey emailed to the Heads of e-Learning Forum (HeLF) which is a network comprised of one senior staff member per UK institution, leading the enhancement of learning and teaching through the use of technology. Prior to the survey, desk-based research on some universities’ publicly available websites gathered similar information about staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning. The online survey received 27 responses, approaching a quarter of all UK HEIs subscribed to the Heads of e-Learning forum list (118 is the total number). Both pre-1992 (16 in number) and post-1992 Universities (11 in number) were represented in the survey and findings indicate the way this sample of UK HEIs are approaching staff development in the area of TEL.
Conceptual framework provides the steps in planning and implementing tracer studies on the alumni of engineering institutions. One can update the curriculum, improve the instructional methods, etc.
A presentation of the study I propose to complete for my dissertation. This is an initial presentation for a research class. The full proposal presentation will be completed in Spring 2010. Any suggestions are always welcome :)
THE RATIONALE AND FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING THE ICT USE IN TEACHER EDUCATION D...DrGavisiddappa Angadi
This study investigated that the quantity of computer and ICT use in teacher education institutions is less and it is mainly focused on the learning of ICT skills which takes optimum time computers are used. The framework is then improved towards a new framework that can be effectively used to evaluate information and communication technology use in pre-service teacher education. In this study the independent variables are derived from computer use within the institution, some other extraneous factor may have impact on the results. Those factors may be computer use at home, friends home and cyber or internet centers by the respondents. The study concludes that the reality rhetoric gap of the impact of ICTs in teacher education institutions be evaluated from periodically to ensure that the quality with program objectives are met. The result shows that there is an urgent need to conduct intensive training to all the teacher educators in the colleges of education. The curriculum developers should develop global content for serving the local needs and make it to available to all the colleges of education online as well as offline content or blended learning modules. Several factors have been cited as responsible for low quantity of computer use in colleges of education. Some of these factors are; attitude towards new technologies, poor management, lack of local content serving local needs, shortage of equipments.
Academic Staff Development in the Area of Technology Enhanced Learning in UK ...eLearning Papers
This paper reports on a study on staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that took place in November, 2011. Data for this study were gathered via an online survey emailed to the Heads of e-Learning Forum (HeLF) which is a network comprised of one senior staff member per UK institution, leading the enhancement of learning and teaching through the use of technology. Prior to the survey, desk-based research on some universities’ publicly available websites gathered similar information about staff development in the area of technology enhanced learning. The online survey received 27 responses, approaching a quarter of all UK HEIs subscribed to the Heads of e-Learning forum list (118 is the total number). Both pre-1992 (16 in number) and post-1992 Universities (11 in number) were represented in the survey and findings indicate the way this sample of UK HEIs are approaching staff development in the area of TEL.
USABILITY OF WEB SITES ADDRESSING TECHNOLOGY BASED CASER (CLASSROOM ASSESSMEN...IJCI JOURNAL
Global advancements, competitions and economic growth have lead to a drastic change in the technological world. The impact of technology both individually as well as collectively changed our life significantly. Nomatter whether it is commercial, transportation, banking, political, or educational field technology has done wonders in all ways. With the leaps and bounds in technological field educationists still make efforts towards new achievement and goals especially in the field of teaching-learning worlds also. If we talk about today’s classroom conditions, we are still lagging behind in many aspects. We are not upto mark or update. So there is a need of adoption and inclusion of ICT and technology resources to be linked to our curriculum system. The role of teacher is quite important in molding shape of our coming generations and modern society. The teacher should make use of innovative devices and strategies while teaching in the classroom situations. The teaching-learning without innovations and technological based devices is meaningless unless we strengthen our whole educational system in terms of technology-based teacher’s professional development through in-service or pre-services trainings, incorporation of latest electronic gadgets and devices in teaching-learning system etc. Thus, this paper focus on the universal design for learning practices for classroom testing and assessment practices, which is designed to minimize errors, adverse consequences, and unintentional actions to assist students in using them safely and efficiently. This paper has directed about the perceptions about the usability of web sites addressing technology which includes the new technologies, approaches, strategies and techniques to be adopted in the classroom for strengthening the potential and competencies of the students. The main objectives of the paper are- (1) To find out the latest techniques, tools and technology based on the classroom assessment and resources. (2) To find out the usability of the websites addressing new technologies and strategies. (3) To make students understand about technological usage for enhancing motivation and feedback thereby reducing errors and mistakes. For this research paper, the researcher consulted various conceptual research frameworks, reviews and trends in studies related to the use of web-sites enhancing technologies, strategies, equipments and resources. The results of the study highlighted major concerns in order to monitor the technology proficiency of the students, one must use multiple methods for presenting the instruction; use multiple assessment formats and tools to support one towards academic progress. Thus, the teachers, educators, stakeholders all have to monitor the technology-based curriculum process supporting assessment and evaluation tools, techniques and resources.
Summary of educational technology at omani higher education institutions
1. Educational Technology at Omani Higher Education Institutions<br />Dr. Ali Sharaf Al Musawi<br />Dr Hamoud Nasser Al Hashmi<br />Purpose of the study:<br />The purpose of this research was to address the current and prospective views on educational technology (ET) in order to discover the difficulties and develop its utilization in Omani higher education.<br />Instruments:<br />The main instruments were two questionnaires: the faculty members' questionnaire, and the technical/administrative staff questionnaire. They were developed by the researchers by generating a list of potential issues of ET derived from the literature and national level standardized surveys.<br />In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted to verify some areas of the effectiveness of instructional software/equipment use brought up by faculty members in the questionnaire.<br />Participants:<br />The participants were (159) ET specialists, administrators, and ET and learning resources centers’ (LRCs) staff representing all educational technologists who have been with the public and private Omani higher education institutions.<br />Findings:<br />No significant differences between the participants' views in relation to three variables (job, qualification, and type of institution) in terms of their abilities to use instructional equipment/facilities.<br />No significant differences between the participants' views in regard to: the impediments of use, and evaluation of instructional technology in relation to two variables (qualification, and type of institution).<br />No significant differences in regard to: the frequency of use in relation to two variables (job and type of institution).<br />No significant differences between the participants' views in regard to: the frequency of use, and ability to use instructional software in relation to two variables (job and type of institution).<br />Some other findings show significant differences in favor of faculty members in terms of instructional software design/production experience, and in favor of PhD holders in terms of the ability to use instructional software.<br />We have discussed many issues of ET at many levels. Some of them as follow:<br />The technical resources level:<br />Issue: several institutions lack most of the equipment and facilities, and the new technologies (Intranet and multimedia labs).<br />Recommendations: expansion on the portable, new, and less expensive technologies and increase the quantities of updated technologies/ software /equipment.<br />The human and financial resources level:<br />Issue: the need for future resources in terms of staffing, budgeting, and research funding.<br />No higher education institution in the Sultanate has a specialized department of ET <br />Recommendations: prepare more technicians and administrators in the field of ET in order to meet these needs and manage the resources.<br />Omani higher education should initiate and fund ET university programs and research.<br />The design and production levels:<br />Issue: Technical/Administrative staff is far less in their instructional software design/production experience than the faculty members. Recommendations: improve their experience through training and practice to enable them to perform their technical/administrative tasks.<br />The use level: <br />Issue: PhD holders are more able to use instructional software than MA and BA holders.<br />Frequency of using instructional software and equipment was weak.<br />Recommendations: Intensive systematic in-service training programs should be conducted for staff in areas of new ET design, production, use, and evaluation.<br />Resource:<br />Reading: RD3<br />