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2. Is It a Blessing? The Impact of COVID-19 on Non-Traditional Language Learners' Satisfaction at Saudi Electronic University
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Alharbi, Amera, Wright, Vicky, and Borthwick, Kate
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This study examines non-traditional language learners' interactions and satisfaction with online learning in the Saudi context during the pandemic. Saudi Electronic University (SEU) is unique in Saudi Arabia as it has adopted a blended mode of teaching and students' completion of both online and class-based materials is mandatory. It enables non-traditional students to further their studies. In a quantitative study, 732 students completed a questionnaire which examines the online learning experiences of these learners. The survey assessed learners' self-efficacy for completing an online course, interactions with content, instructor, other students, and overall satisfaction. The paper examines whether moving to entirely online learning during the pandemic has affected their life and study positively or negatively. [For the complete volume, "CALL and Professionalisation: Short Papers from EUROCALL 2021 (29th, Online, August 26-27, 2021)," see ED616972.]
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- 2021
3. Emergency Student Practicum during the Pandemic at Saudi Universities
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Al-Jarf, Reima
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This study investigates how emergency practicum was carried out during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the past two years (Spring 2020 to Sprin 2022) in Saudi Arabia. Results of surveys with a sample of instructors from Languages, Translation, Literature, Linguistics, Education and Computer Science Departments at a sample of universities in Saudi Arabia showed that most universities shifted to online (virtual) practicum such as online micro-teaching, online simulated teaching, remote hands-on teaching using the Saudi Ministry of Education's Platform "Madrasati" that is used for Grades k-12; reduced hours and days of face-to-face teaching practicum and training; a Teacher Mentoring Program for EFL majors and a Cooperative Training Program for linguistics and translation students. Translation students also had the option to translate 14,000 words remotely (at home), discuss and receive feedback online instead of field training in translation. In computer science, the students could complete their face-to-face practicum in small groups during the summer to maintain social distancing or attend 135 hours of online training courses in a variety of computer fields. Recommendations for further emergency practicum solutions are given such as student-created videos and podcasts, delivering lessons via a variety of live-streaming software such as Elluminate, Periscope and Facebook Watch Party, joining professional teachers and translators' forums and pages on social media, developing Apps, robots, and conducting some learning analytics of students' data in distance learning contexts in Saudi Arabian schools and universities; offering courses that prepare students for remote (online) jobs during the Pandemic and beyond.
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- 2022
4. Exploring Teachers and Students' Perceptions towards Emergency Online Learning Intensive English Writing Course during COVID-19 Pandemic
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Sheerah, Hebah Asaad Hamza, Yadav, Meenakshi Sharma, Allah, May Ali Elzein Fadl, and Abdin, Ghazwa Jalal
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For ages, teaching and learning face-to-face has been very popular and considered the best way to achieve knowledge and accomplish academic activities. However, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, where on the one side, the whole world was searching for a solution to cope with the situation on the other side online learning demonstrated a substantial alternative. The present paper aimed to investigate the teachers and students' perceptions of the emergency online learning process, especially for intensive English writing courses. The study is descriptive using the qualitative research methodology. The two focus groups (teacher and student) are interviewed, consisting of 42 participants, asking open-ended questions mainly about the benefits and challenges of the writing course during the Pandemic. The paper ends with the teachers and students' positive response that indicates the thrilled and jubilant welcome of the synchronized online/virtual learning in the latest situation that emerged due to the Pandemic. Eventually, the study discussed the quality assurance efforts, particularly towards the spontaneous conduction of lectures infused with motivation, responsibility, discipline, and flexibility offered without any interruption. The Internet proved a great learning tool in assuring many resources.
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- 2022
5. Understanding the Foremost Challenges in the Transition to Online Teaching and Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review
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Hamad, Wahid Bakar
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The study aims to understand the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study adopts the PRISMA approach to screening the selection of journal articles and review papers according to the research aims and the inclusion criteria. The journal articles and review papers were extracted and stored in Microsoft Excel and Google Scholar, Academic. Microsoft, Semantic Scholar, Elsevier, and Emerald Insight databases searched relevant documents using formulated keywords. A statistical technique was applied using the M.S. Excel analysis tool (PivotTable and an independent t-Test) to analyze data and determine the differences between teachers and students. The review revealed the evidence that the majority of the studies were primarily focused on the individual developing countries and results from other developing countries were not considered. In addition, the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic were inadequate skills and training, inadequate Internet/Infrastructure, lack of supporting resources and lack of online student engagement and feedback. Finally, the independent t-test reveals there is no statistically significant difference in challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both teachers and students encounter similar challenges. The systematic review raised concerns that higher learning needs to effectively implement long term strategies and support teachers and students in getting into online teaching and learning.
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- 2022
6. Impact of Online Learning on Gifted Students
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Alshehri, Abdullah Hamoud Abdullah
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This paper presents the findings from a study conducted to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent school closures on the wellbeing of gifted students and their attitudes towards online (distance) learning. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic circumstances on the parents of gifted children was also explored in this study. Data collection was via semi-structured interviews with gifted students (n = 25) and parents of gifted students (n = 10). This study found that school closures and home isolation resulted in gifted students and their parents experienced a heightened sense of burdened and an increase in the tension within the family. Additionally, changes in the psychological wellbeing of the gifted students were observed. COVID-19 has had a significant disruptive effect on the routines of gifted students, restricting their capacity to move freely and causing them to experience adverse outcomes including sleeping difficulties, loneliness, lack of motivation, and a sense of helplessness. Gifted students also reported generally negative attitude towards online learning, describing it as inadequate, inefficient, and limited in its opportunities to promote student interaction and discussion. This paper also includes suggestions on how support for gifted students can be improved to help them to achieve to their potential both during and after the pandemic.
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- 2022
7. An Approach to Semantic Educational Content Mining Using NLP
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Aisha Abdulmohsin Al Abdulqader, Amenah Ahmed Al Mulla, Gaida Abdalaziz Al Moheish, Michael Jovellanos Pinero, Conrado Vizcarra, Abdulelah Al Gosaibi, and Abdulaziz Saad Albarrak
- Abstract
The COVID-19 epidemic had caused one of the most significant disruptions to the global education system. Many educational institutions faced sudden pressure to switch from face-to-face to online delivery of courses. The conventional classes are no longer the primary means of delivery; instead, online education and resources have become the prominent approach. With the increasing demand for supplementary course materials to fulfill the needs of each area of study, students began to use search engines and online resources that contain discussions, practical demonstrations, and tutorial videos to aid students in their studies and course work. This study addresses the underlying challenges of retrieving relevant online educational materials by introducing an intelligent agent for semantic data mining. It works as middleware infrastructure that allow context-aware data processing and mining. YouTube was used to assess the consistency of the proposed model since it returns a large number of results in its search pool. The results showed that using the extraction of topics method, the similarities scores with the proposed model provided favorable results. Furthermore, an improvement in video ranking and sorting was realized. According to the findings, using this method provided users with a more productive and reliable study experience. [For the full proceedings, see ED639633.]
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- 2022
8. The Pandemic Job Market from the Perspective of Female Languages and Translation College Graduates in Saudi Arabia: Crisis or Opportunity
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Reima Al-Jarf
- Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak early 2020 has had a considerable impact on the global labor market. Many businesses closed down, constrained their working hours, reduced their staff, and/or limited their new recruitments. Many employees have been obliged to work remotely and interact digitally. Due to the pandemic, the unemployment rates have gone up to unprecedented rates in all countries. This study investigates the status of unemployment in Saudi Arabia in May 2021 among languages and translation graduates and whether Saudi universities have adapted their curricula to equip languages and translation graduating seniors with the necessary skills needed for the pandemic and post-pandemic job market. Most participating graduates, instructors and administrators in the sample reported lack of jobs for language and translation graduates and that universities have not adapted their curricula nor offered any training courses or seminars in job search techniques and digital and interpersonal skills necessary for the new pandemic job environment. The study recommends that Saudi universities offer online workshops and seminars to train graduating seniors in preparing a CV, writing a letter of purpose and cover letter, filling a job application form, answering online vocational interest surveys, where to look for a job online, joining online business communities, getting ready for job interviews, raising students' awareness of recruitment and job advertisement websites/pages, and training students in effective communication, interpersonal, and digital skills needed for a remote job environment. Students are also advised to do volunteer work and take training courses while waiting to be recruited.
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- 2021
9. Investigating Digital Equity in Distance Education in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Al-Jarf, Reima
- Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there was a sudden shift from face-to-face to distance education in all schools and universities in Saudi Arabia (SA) starting March 2020. Many instructors and students were not technically prepared for this abrupt transition as some did not have devices and Internet access. On the other hand, some households have high-speed Internet and even a device for each child. This study investigates the digital equity in accessing online courses by students in low-income families, orphanages, and remote areas. A sample of school and university teachers and students from different regions in SA was interviewed. The subjects reported that lack of devices/Internet access was overcome by: (i) Governorates donating thousands of tablets to disadvantaged students; (ii) charity organizations and affluent individuals donate tablets/laptops and financial aid; (iii) some school teachers collect money to buy tablets for needy students; (iv) students who do not have devices and/or Internet go to school few times a week and meet with teachers face-to-face to teach them and help them with homework; (v) needy college students are allowed to use devices and Internet at their college computer laps or library; (vi) some underprivileged students reported borrowing a smartphone/laptop from relatives or neighbours and/or use relatives and neighbours' Internet; (vii) Saudi mobile companies offer special Internet packages for students and teachers. Sample regions, types of disadvantaged students and help provided to bridge the digital and distance education gap in SA during COVID-19 are given in detail.
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- 2021
10. Differential Effects of the iPad on First and Second Language Acquisition by Saudi Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Al-Jarf, Reima
- Abstract
This study investigates the differential effects of the iPad on first and second language learning by Saudi children in the home environment. The subjects consisted of 78 parents and 118 children. The children were grouped into: 1-6 years old (young children in kindergarten and pre-school); 7- 9 years (grades 1-3); and 10-12 years (grades 4-6). Results of the survey-questionnaire showed that the iPad is more effective in helping young children in language learning than older children in grades 1-3, and in grades 4-6 respectively. Older children mainly use the iPad to play games and watch movies. More children under the age of 6 use the iPad to learn English than Arabic; 21.88% use Arabic Alphabet apps to learn; 15.6% use apps to learn the Quran; 12.5% use apps to learn numeracy and arithmetic; and 12.5% use animal apps. The iPad helps kindergarten children to learn the alphabet, numbers, names of animals, colors, fruits, seasons, and continents. They learn from apps, from games, cartoons, movies, nursery rhymes, stories, and flash cards. The iPad helps children focus on and engage in learning because the apps are interactive and use color, animation, audio, and video. Negative effects of the iPad on language learning include learning bad language, bad handwriting and some children no longer read print books. Most parents supervise their young children but not older children while using the iPad. The article reports the results in detail and gives recommendations for better use of the iPad.
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- 2021
11. Higher Education Institution Faculty Teaching Experience during Quarantine: Challenges and Recommendations
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Alabdulkreem, Eatedal
- Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly, sending billions of people into lockdown. To protect students and staff members from this contagious disease, universities worldwide have decided to close and replace face-to-face teaching and learning with distance learning programs. This research, therefore, focuses on how this sudden transition has impacted academics in the College of Computer and Information Sciences (CCIS) at Princess Nourah bint Abdul Rahman University (PNU), Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted by interviewing 15% of this college' academic staff members. Questions centered on their experiences shifting from face-to-face teaching to online delivery. The results help to establish what challenges academics have faced during these unprecedented times, as well as what recommendations can be made to ensure online delivery is conducted smoothly so that harmony may return to the processes of university teaching and learning. [For the full proceedings, see ED623569.]
- Published
- 2021
12. The Perception of Blackboard Collaborate-Based Instruction by EFL Majors/Teachers Amid COVID-19: A Case Study of Saudi Universities
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Khafaga, Ayman Farid
- Abstract
This paper investigates the perception of using Blackboard Collaborate-based Instruction (BCI) by Saudi EFL majors and teachers during the crisis of COVID-19 pandemic. The paper's main objective is to explore the extent to which modern technologies contribute to the process of teaching and learning English at Saudi universities. This is conducted by probing the benefits and challenges of using Blackboard Collaborate as a digital platform through which the different university courses are taught. The study, therefore, seeks to highlight the role of a computerbased instruction, by shedding light on the opportunities and challenges of incorporating latest technologies into the pedagogy of learning and teaching English as a foreign language in the Saudi universities. Two methodological instruments are used to collect data: the first is electronic questionnaires to test both students' and teachers' attitudinal perception towards the use of Blackboard in the learning/teaching process; and the second is an interview conducted with 29 staff members affiliated to 5 different Saudi universities concerning the use of Blackboard as a digital platform of teaching various university courses. Results reveal that despite the challenges that encounter both students and teachers in managing the process of learning and teaching via Blackboard Collaborate amid COVID-19, which are ascribed to some technical and academic reasons, this digital platform proves useful and conductive to better learning outcomes as it offers a bendable learning environment through which participants can flexibly manage their learning, both synchronously and asynchronously, by attending their classes, accessing their courses materials, participating in discussions, and sitting for examinations.
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- 2021
13. COVID-19's Impact on Higher Education: A Rapid Review of Early Reactive Literature
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Khan, Muzammal Ahmad
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This rapid systematic review aims to examine emerging evidence on the effects of COVID-19 on educational institutions and assess the prevalence of e-learning changes in the sector. This paper reviews literature on learning, teaching, and assessment approaches adopted since the COVID-19 outbreak, and assesses the impact on the sector, staff, and students, summarizing findings from peer-reviewed articles. It categorizes these into five key themes: (1) digital learning; (2) e-learning challenges; (3) digital transition to emergency virtual assessment (EVA); (4) psychological impact of COVID-19; and (5) creating collaborative cultures. This represents the first systematic review of COVID-19's impact on education, clarifying current themes being investigated. The author suggests that the term 'emergency virtual assessment' (EVA) is now added for future research discussion. Finally, the paper identifies research gaps, including researching the impact on lesser developed countries, the psychological impact of transition, and the important role of leadership and leadership styles during the transition and handling of the pandemic.
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- 2021
14. Proceedings of International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (iHSES) (New York, New York, April 22-25, 2021). Volume 1
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International Society for Technology, Education and Science (ISTES) Organization, Jackowicz, Stephen, Sahin, Ismail, Jackowicz, Stephen, Sahin, Ismail, and International Society for Technology, Education and Science (ISTES) Organization
- Abstract
"Proceedings of International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences" includes full papers presented at the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (iHSES), which took place on April 22-25, 2021, in New York, New York. The aim of the conference is to offer opportunities to share ideas, to discuss theoretical and practical issues, and to connect with the leaders in the fields of "humanities," "education," and "social sciences." The conference is organized annually by the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (ISTES). The iHSES invites submissions which address the theory, research, or applications in all disciplines of humanities, education, and social sciences. The iHSES is organized for: (1) faculty members in all disciplines of humanities, education, and social sciences; (2) graduate students; (3) K-12 administrators; (4) teachers; (5) principals; and (6) all interested in education and social sciences. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]
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- 2021
15. Factors Influencing Students' Acceptance of e-Learning Platforms in Primary and Secondary Schools in Saudi Arabia
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Bakarman, Amani and Almezeini, Nora
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Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Saudi Ministry of Education decided to transform the educational process for both primary and secondary schools into electronic education for the first time. In this regard, it has established a new platform called Madrasti to ensure the effective transformation of learning. The study aims to highlight the features of the Madrasti platform and adopted the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to determine the factors that influence students' acceptance of e-learning platforms in primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia. A total of 802 students from different levels responded to the survey on UTAUT constructs. Empirical data revealed that performance expectancy and social influence determine students' behavioral intention. Moreover, facilitating conditions and behavioral intentions determine students' use of e-learning platforms. [For the full proceedings, see ED621892.]
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- 2021
16. Proceedings of the International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS) International Conference: e-Learning 2021, Part of the Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems (MCCSIS 2021) (15th, Virtual, July 20-23, 2021)
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International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS), Nunes, Miguel Baptista, Isaias, Pedro, Nunes, Miguel Baptista, Isaias, Pedro, and International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS)
- Abstract
These proceedings contain the papers of the 15th International Conference on e-Learning (EL 2021), which was organised by the International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS), July 20-22, 2021. This conference is part of the 15th Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems (MCCSIS), July 20-23, 2021, which had a total of 456 submissions. Due to an exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the conference was hosted virtually. The e-Learning (EL) 2021 conference aims to address the main issues of concern within e-Learning. This conference covers both technical as well as the non-technical aspects of e-Learning. The conference accepted submissions in the following seven main areas: (1) Organisational Strategy and Management Issues; (2) Technological Issues; (3) e-Learning Curriculum Development Issues; (4) Instructional Design Issues; (5) e-Learning Delivery Issues; (6) e-Learning Research Methods and Approaches; and (7) e-Skills and Information Literacy for Learning. [Individual papers are indexed in ERIC.]
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- 2021
17. Proceedings of International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (New York, New York, April 22-25, 2021). Volume 1
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International Society for Technology, Education and Science (ISTES) Organization, Jackowicz, Stephen, and Sahin, Ismail
- Abstract
"Proceedings of International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences" includes full papers presented at the International Conference on Humanities, Social and Education Sciences (iHSES) which took place on April 22-25, 2021 in New York, USA-www.ihses.net. The aim of the conference is to offer opportunities to share ideas, to discuss theoretical and practical issues and to connect with the leaders in the fields of humanities, education and social sciences. The conference is organized annually by the International Society for Technology, Education, and Science (ISTES)-www.istes.org. The iHSES invites submissions which address the theory, research or applications in all disciplines of humanities, education and social sciences. The iHSES is organized for: faculty members in all disciplines of humanities, education and social sciences, graduate students, K-12 administrators, teachers, principals and all interested in humanities, education and social sciences. After peer-reviewing process, all full papers are published in the Conference Proceedings.
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- 2021
18. E-Learning Challenges in Saudi Arabia: Exploration of Factors with Special Reference to EFL
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Alfallaj, Fahad Saleh Suleiman
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The development and use of online and e-learning system in many colleges are now the greatest obstacles in the field of EFL, but ones that are necessitated given the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like Blackboard, e-learning has other useful avenues to use in EFL till the time that the pandemic is over. However, the success of e-learning platforms in EFL relies on an understanding of the dynamics of the application and the main problems affecting current e-learning programs. Teachers and learners of EFL in KSA are only now recognizing the problems and variables, whose resolution alone can ensure success of e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later as an expanding horizon in foreign language learning. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to examine the major challenges posed by current e-learning systems and the key explanations for the usage of elearning in EFL in the current circumstances. The paper used the thematic research interview approach using the NVivo development model. This was an interview with 30 EFL students and 31 e-learning specialists at Qassim University in Saudi Arabia. The study results offer valuable advice for policymakers, programmers, content creators, academicans and EFL learners in identifying the key aspects of e-learning use during the COVID-19 pandemic in KSA.
- Published
- 2020
19. The Role of Educated Neighborhoods in Achieving the Necessary Life Skills for Adult Learners in Saudi Arabia to Confront the COVID-19 Crisis
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Aljohani, Obaidalah H.
- Abstract
With today's world of accelerated progress and change, the skills to solve problems, think critically, communicate effectively, and manage lives in a healthy and productive manner are essential for people to flourish in the 21st century. The study's purpose is to explore the role of educated-neighborhood programs for achieving the necessary life skills that adult learners need to help them during the present pandemic. The research also investigates if there is a difference, by gender and number of courses, regarding the educated neighborhood programs' role when acquiring the necessary life skills that could enable adult learners to confront the COVID-19 crisis. The theoretical framework depends on John Dewey's perspective. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized. A total sample of 601 adult learners participated in this study. The results illustrated that the adult learners who enrolled in the educated neighborhood programs perceived the benefit of the life skills by practicing these skills during the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, the results revealed differences for both life skills based on the number of courses that learners had taken during the present pandemic. The benefit of the direction was for people who took 5 or more courses. Understanding adult learners' needs is essential to provide the necessary life skills that fit with today's world of accelerated change. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]
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- 2020
20. Empowering Saudi Women through Vocational Skills at Educated-Neighborhood Programs in the Time of COVID-19
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Alajlan, Sarah M.
- Abstract
Educated-neighborhood programs are lifelong-learning projects created by the Saudi government to achieve a positive effect on the economic, social, and cultural factors. These programs provide various training skills that should support Saudi Vision 2030 and help adults to deal with their lives. Therefore, this study aimed to discover how much Saudi women were empowered through the vocational skills being taught at educated-neighborhood programs during the time of COVID-19. The research also determined if there was a statistically significant difference, by marital status and the number of courses, for the Saudi women's responses about their empowerment through vocational skills at the educated-neighborhood programs during the time of COVID-19. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; a self-developed questionnaire was utilized to collect data. The study's sample was female, adult, Saudi learners who were enrolled in Makkah. Saudi Arabia's educated-neighborhood programs to gain vocational skills. The results indicated that Saudi women were empowered with the vocational skills obtained at educated-neighborhood programs. Moreover, the findings showed that there were no statistically significant differences among the women's responses due to marital status. However, there were statistically significant differences among the women's responses based on the number of courses taken. The benefit of the direction was for women who took 5 or more courses. One recommendation from this study was that vocational skills should design in a way that can encourage and empower women for the labor market for the 21st century. [For the full proceedings, see ED613257.]
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- 2020
21. English Language Learning Strategies during COVID-19 in the Middle East: A Systematic Review
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Khreisat, Mohammad N.
- Abstract
The recent pandemic has forced the educational sector to unwillingly reform its strategies by compelling it to embrace technology as the savior of the educational process. COVID-19 has adversely affected this sector by forcing a halt to all face-to-face learning in educational institutes, which led to dependence solely on online education and adopting strategies fit solely to distant learning. Thus, this paper has focused on the English language learning strategies adopted during COVID-19. Moreover, this research aims to provide the latest information about online teaching strategies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic by English language instructors in Asia, especially in Middle Eastern countries. This study is qualitative in nature and utilizes the systematic literature review approach. The data for this research was gathered from renowned databases to maintain reliability. The results highlighted that among many strategies, three are most important in teaching the English language during COVID-19, first is collaborative learning (i.e., breakout classes, cloud-based collaboration), the second is flipped classroom, and the final is scaffolding. In the end, the study concluded with the recommendation as the findings of this research can help policymakers and educationists in developing effective or efficient strategies for tackling tough situations or pandemics.
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- 2022
22. Students' Actual Use of E-Learning in Higher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Gurban, Masouda A. and Almogren, Abeer S.
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The purpose of this study was to look at factors that might influence whether or not academics will use e-learning during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The goal of this paper is to look into the effect of perceived interaction, educational materials, playfulness, perceived enjoyment, self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use on students' attitudes toward and intentions to use e-learning in Saudi Arabia higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the indirect impact of student satisfaction with their actual use of e-learning. The research model was evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM) and route analysis, which were based on e-learning user data collected through a survey. Student happiness and desire to use e-learning both had a beneficial impact on actual use, according to the statistics. During the COVID-19 epidemic, perceived interaction and self-efficacy were shown to be the most important factors influencing perceived usefulness and ease of use, which affected students' intentions and satisfaction with e-learning. The study's participants were e-learning users from a government university in Saudi Arabia. Previous studies on e-learning in developing nations have seldom taken a holistic approach. This paper also aims to include a literature review of recent published studies in the field of e-learning usage during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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- 2022
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23. Knowledge and behaviors of using vitamin D to boost immunity against COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Saudi Arabia.
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Shamlan G and Aleanizy FS
- Subjects
- Humans, Vitamin D, Cross-Sectional Studies, Saudi Arabia epidemiology, Pandemics, COVID-19 epidemiology
- Abstract
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has globally impacted all aspects of life since its emergence and spread. There is a strong biological assumption and progressing epidemiological data supporting the role of vitamin D (VD) in COVID-19 infection. This study aims to determine the knowledge about VD supplements to boost immunity against COVID-19 and if participation in specific behaviors has increased the consumption of VD supplements during social distance restriction in Saudi Arabia (SA) in May 2021. This cross-sectional study used a structured online questionnaire for 2369 SA people, including demographic characteristics and knowledge about VD supplements to boost immunity against COVID-19 showed that there was a significant association between sex and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) (P = .000), and having VDD was strongly associated with having another vitamin deficiency (P = .008). Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between VDD and cardiovascular (P = .027) and respiratory diseases (P = .019). Almost half of the participants used VD supplements to reduce or heal their COVID-19 symptoms. The adverse association between having VDD and understanding of COVID-19 symptoms was statistically significant (P = .01). Ginger is commonly used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of VD. The administration of VD is now known to be of physiological significance for general health, and evidence suggesting the beneficial role of VD in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases, particularly infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, is increasing., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)
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- 2022
- Full Text
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24. Saudi EFL Primary School Teachers' and Parents' Perceptions of Online Assessment during COVID-19 Pandemic
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Almansour, Shaden and Alaudan, Rasha
- Abstract
Since March 2020, the world has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in sudden school closures and a rapid transition from traditional face-to-face education to a new model of online learning and assessment. The present study analyzes two cohorts--primary-school EFL teachers and students' parents--regarding the perceptions they have had and the challenges they have faced when assessing young EFL learners online during COVID-19. A specific aim of the study is to identify primary-school EFL teachers' perceptions of the online methods used in assessing young EFL learners in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia. The research follows a quantitative method involving a convenience-sampling method for the selection of the study's participants. A total of 34 primary-school EFL teachers and 20 parents of young learners who are studying online in primary public schools were the main participants of the study. The researcher used a survey-based method involving a five-point Likert scale to collect data from the participants. The surveys were distributed online via the social-media application WhatsApp. The statistically analyzed responses yielded two types of descriptive statistics: frequencies, and percentages. The results show that both the teachers and the parents perceived online assessments as more convenient, fun and interactive than traditional paper-based assessments. Furthermore, both the teachers and the parents associated online assessments with serious challenges, such as cheating and technical problems. And teachers held positive views of various online methods and techniques for the assessment of young EFL learners.
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- 2022
25. Towards an Optimal Blended Learning Model during Disrupted Education Periods
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Al Ghazali, Fawzi
- Abstract
This paper studies the application of alternative instruction models such as online and blended learning to compensate for the closures of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including colleges and universities in the Middle East following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Online learning was introduced as an immediate alternative to complete academic semesters by offering courses via distance learning modes. However, the review of relevant literature, surveys, and studies showed that complete online learning does not bring the optimal results in the Arab learning settings. Surveys conducted in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other countries revealed that complete online learning proved insufficient from the viewpoint of students, parents, and educators. Blended Learning Models (BLMs) are presented as a midway between full face-to-face and online instruction modalities. This study examines the different types and models of blended learning and how they are perceived by students in different educational contexts. This study aims to set the features of developing an optimal model of blended learning and how it can be implemented in the Arab HEIs. This study provides pedagogical implications and insights into how to apply an effective blended learning model to reinforce knowledge construction not only during disrupted education periods but also as an optimal educational construct aimed to foster students' autonomy and to help them to take charge of their own learning. Whereas this modality can be introduced at the school level, its application could be more efficient at the university level.
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- 2022
26. Transition to Online EFL Teaching in Saudi Arabian Universities during the COVID-19 Outbreak
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Albaqami, Saad Eid and Alzahrani, Dhaif
- Abstract
As a result of the coronavirus crisis and the new restrictions and mandates set by governments around the globe, many educational institutions decided to suspend in-person classes and replace them with online instruction. Universities in Saudi Arabia shifted their entire delivery of teaching to the online platform and closed their doors. This unprecedented and unexpected online transition had several consequences. The present paper examines how instructors in Saudi universities reflected on this transition and the extent to which they were ready for such an unforeseen change. The current study is significant for helping instructors rise to the challenges resulting from the wholescale and ongoing transition to online teaching and learning in the wake of COVID-19 and the subsequent suspension of face-to-face instruction. In addition, this study seeks to examine the attitudes and readiness of participants from eight universities in Saudi Arabia in the broader context. The results revealed that instructors have positive attitudes towards utilising online tools and were knowledgeable of the significant advantages of integrating online tools and content into their teaching of English language as a foreign language; however, they reported that they were not adequately prepared and that they experienced distress and suffered due to the obligation to acquire new digital skills within a very short period.
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- 2022
27. The Use of Blackboard in the Practice of English-Speaking Skills among Saudi EFL Learners during COVID-19
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Al-Oqaily, Emran Ismail, Salam, Abdul Rahim Hj, and Na, Kew Si
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The current coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic caused a temporary halt to educational activities around the world. The abrupt and fast shift from regular face-to-face learning to fully online learning altered the students' impressions toward the Blackboard application and its use. It is important to have an in-depth analysis of the effectiveness of using the blackboard platform in developing students' skills. The current study included a review of both quantitative and qualitative papers according to their relevance to the Saudi context to get a clearer image about the use of blackboard in building up Saudi EFL learners speaking skills. The purpose of this study is to address and review the studies that investigate students' perceptions of the Blackboard program as a mere tool of learning English courses in Preparatory Year, as well as the impact of those perceptions on students' use of Blackboard. This work underlines previous literature associated with blackboard as a platform in the practice of speaking skills in the English language among Saudi English as Foreign Language (EFL) Learners. It is meant to provide an overview of how Blackboard computer and internet-based virtual class (CIBVC) is used to overcome Saudi EFL learners' difficulties in English-speaking skills and describes their speaking ability from the perspectives of accuracy, fluency, and Anxiety. This work suggests that the students' earlier knowledge of online learning via Blackboard has a positive impact on their perceptions. It also contributed to online learning of English language speaking skills and the learning via the online learning platforms' research field during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
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- 2022
28. Exploring Online Writing Assessment amid COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities from Teachers' Perspectives
- Author
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Al-Bargi, Abdullah
- Abstract
Remote online second language (L2) writing instruction, in general, and remote online L2 writing assessment, in particular, require a holistic structural approach that results in improving students' L2 writing, as well as offering an authentic and fair assessment of students' L2 writing performance. The study described in this paper employed a convergent parallel mixed methods approach where the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the purpose of the research, necessitated the adoption of this research design since it can provide the basis for answering the question: What impact did full mode online teaching have on L2 education. In the survey part of the research, 241 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers working in Saudi Arabia participated in a custom-designed 30-item questionnaire utilizing a five-point Likert scale. In the qualitative part of the study, nine EFL teachers (four males and five females) participated in a semi-structured interview which lasted from thirty-five to fifty minutes. A detailed analysis of both the quantitative and qualitative primary data indicated that EFL teachers are aware of the importance of rubrics and standardized assessment procedures in awarding fair grades to students. Teachers also highlighted several important advantages of teaching online L2 writing remotely. However, the vast majority of teachers questioned the accuracy of online writing assessment, indicating the need for a more developed model for the post COVID-19 era. Recommendations included the adoption of unanimously suggested practices (by participating teachers) in teaching remote online L2 writing as well as mandating the presence of the students onsite during the sitting of the writing exams, thus providing the assurance of authenticity of students' performance in the writing exams as well as the possibility to monitor all the students while they sit the exams.
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- 2022
29. Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Benefits and Challenges for EFL Students
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Alsayed, Rama Abdulkarim and Althaqafi, Abeer Sultan Ahm
- Abstract
Online learning has been a vital tool to be used during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many research studies have been conducted on this topic from different perspectives. However, it can be argued that it is important to identify and evaluate the students' experience especially those of them who are experiencing online learning for the first time. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate Saudi EFL learners' experience towards the rapid shift to an entirely online learning environment. Specifically, this study aimed to identify the benefits and the challenges of online learning during COVID-19 and compare the traditional way of face-to-face learning to online learning from the students' perspective. The research method employed for this paper was a quantitative method in terms of a questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 15 items and was utilized to identify the benefits and challenges that the students have faced during their online learning experience. Participants were 72 Saudi EFL learners in their preparatory year at a Saudi higher education institution. Major findings revealed a number of benefits of online learning, such as: "Easy access to online material", "Ability to record meetings and sessions", and "Retrieve information". On the other hand, technical problems were the most reported challenge for students, in addition to lack of interaction with teachers. Based on the research findings, several suggestions and recommendations were presented to enhance the effectiveness of online learning.
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- 2022
30. Future Proposals for E-Learning at Conventional Tertiary Institutions as They Move on Past the COVID Experience
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Sa'di, Rami A., Sharadgah, Talha A., Abdulrazzaq, Ahmad, and Yaseen, Maha S.
- Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading rapidly throughout the world, the most widespread reaction in many countries to curtail the disease was lockdown. As a result, educational institutions had to find an alternative to face-to-face learning. The most obvious solution was e-learning. Conventional tertiary institutions with little virtual learning experience had to deal with an unprecedented challenge. This study delineates practices that can be suggested for conventional institutions of tertiary education that may be planning to acquire more e-learning experience in the post-COVID era so that they may be better prepared to move on beyond traditional classroom teaching. The qualitative research method was utilized to carry out this study. The data collected for the study comprised mainly two sources: the existing literature that tackles the issue of how tertiary institutions around the world shifted to e-learning during the pandemic, and an analysis by the researchers of COVID-related circulars that were issued by the Saudi Ministry of Education and by Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University. The review of related literature and the analysis of the circulars enabled the researchers to produce a number of suggestions aimed at improving the e-learning experience of conventional tertiary institutions. The researchers followed five steps in their literature review: (1) pinpointing search terms and then creating a search strategy and implementing it; (2) sorting the studies gathered, excluding duplicates and studies deemed irrelevant, and decreeing standards for deciding what to keep and what to rule out; (3) evaluating the studies in the light of those standards; (4) obtaining data; and (5) analysing data. This study does not recommend that conventional tertiary institutions become 100% online, but it does suggest that those institutions should make some learning content digitally accessible, build community partnerships, encourage self-study skills among students, help students change their learning style from passive to active, and revisit their e-assessment practices. This paper also stresses the importance of giving further support to teaching staff, sheds light on how institution buildings can reopen smoothly as the restrictions ease, discusses what factors influence the outcomes of e-learning, and tackles the issue of student dropouts during the pandemic. This study concludes by outlining the important notion of adopting blended learning and developing e-learning programs on an international scale.
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- 2022
31. Online Exams in Language, Linguistics and Translation Courses during the Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
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Al-Jarf, Reima
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At Saudi universities, there was a sudden shift from face-to-face instruction to distance learning and assessment in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This study explored the status of online exams in language, linguistics, and translation courses in the first two semesters of the Pandemic (Spring 2020 and Fall 2020). Analysis of faculty surveys and students' comments on Twitter showed that the main concern of 91% of the students was final exams and passing courses with high grades. Students were worried about the negative effect of online exams on their GPA. Since the students were not familiar with online exams taken via Blackboard, they were anxious and wondered if they would do well. Some cheated on online exams as their cameras were turned off. Numerous adjustments were mandated by university administrations to alleviate students' anxiety such as allocating 20% of the course mark to the final exam, allowing more exam time, giving projects, open-book exams, term papers, reports, assignments or giving a presentation instead of the final. Some instructors gave easy questions and were lenient in grading to avoid students' complaints. They gave no essay, just objective questions. The students were given the option to drop the course, to choose a letter grade, pass/fail, i.e., no grade, or to have a course mark included in their GPA. Based on faculty surveys, this study reports challenges of online exams during the Pandemic, design and delivery of online exams, assessment forms and choices, grade inflation issues, and lessons learned and some recommendations.
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- 2022
32. The Effects of Previous Experience and Self Efficacy on the Acceptance of e-Learning Platforms among Younger Students in Saudi Arabia
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Sulaymani, Omar, Pratama, Ahmad R., Alshaikh, Moneer, and Alammary, Ali
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In Saudi Arabia, some e-learning initiatives such as the Future Gate Project (FGP) and Madrasati (MySchool) have been in place since 2018 and 2020, respectively. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they were used as a means of distance learning for students across the country. This paper investigates the willingness of students to use the e-learning platforms and whether it varies across different sex and age group. Primary data in the form of a survey of 265 secondary school students across the Makkah region was analysed with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) by using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework. We found that students' self-efficacy, which is strongly influenced by their previous experience with the underlying technology used in the e-learning platforms, has a positive effect for older students in high school, yet surprisingly, a negative one for younger students in middle school. We also found that perceived ease of use and social influence to be the most important factors behind the students' acceptance of e-learning platforms and that the effects are stronger for female students than for male students. While this study was conducted in Saudi Arabia, the findings from this study provide a first-hand insight that can help ensure the continuity of the e-learning platforms if they are to be implemented permanently as distance learning platforms even after the end of the pandemic that is also applicable to any other countries.
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- 2022
33. Online Distance Learning for Translation Subjects: Tertiary Level Instructors' and Students' Perceptions in Saudi Arabia
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Aldossary, Khal
- Abstract
Amid the vast spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, educational institutions worldwide have shifted to eLearning platforms. This abrupt shift from traditional face-to-face teaching to virtual online classes has brought about some challenges. The central objective of this study is to explore university instructors' and students' perceptions of utilizing eLearning platforms for teaching and learning translation subjects. The study sample consisted of mixed-gender faculty members (n = 22) and undergraduate students (n = 133) from the Department of English Language and Translation (DELT) in the College of Languages and Translation (COLT) at King Saud University (KSU). A quantitative research design was used. Two separate five-point Likert scale questionnaires were distributed to instructors and students, respectively. The findings revealed that neither instructors' nor students' perceptions of eLearning differed, and a number of benefits were reported. The paper concludes with the limitations and implications of the findings as well as suggestions for future research.
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- 2021
34. Synchronous and Asynchronous English Writing Classes in the EFL Context: Students' Practices and Benefits
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Bin Dahmash, Nada
- Abstract
Synchronous and asynchronous classes were implemented by universities around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) engaged in multiple practices when attending English writing classes in both modes. However, the practices they engaged in and the benefits they perceived were reportedly of limited benefit. This study asks: What are the practices of students that emerge during synchronous and asynchronous English writing classes? What are the benefits of synchronous and asynchronous English writing classes from the student's perspective? Group and one-to-one interviews were conducted with twelve students majoring in computer science and information technology at a Saudi university. Thematic analysis revealed that students engage in practices including using the split view on iPads, opening additional windows to search for information, searching using smartphone apps, and writing notes and highlighting key concepts when attending English writing classes regardless of learning mode. It also revealed that synchronous classes offered students real-time communication and provided immediate feedback, while asynchronous classes allowed students to navigate the challenges of distance learning, complementing the synchronous English writing classes and providing students with a sense of security. This paper concludes by advising language teachers to record synchronous classes, raise students' awareness of the benefits of attending both types of classes and encourage students to apply practices reported by previous students to maximize their English language learning.
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- 2021
35. Technology, Pedagogy & Assessment: Challenges of COVID-19-Imposed E-Teaching of ESP to Saudi Female PY Students
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Alvi, Amatul Hafeez, Bilal, Syed Muhammad, and Alvi, Aisha Abdul Rahim
- Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) triggered substantial shifts in the education systems worldwide as teaching and learning have had to shift from face-to-face to an entirely virtual model due to the closure of educational institutes. The present paper is a descriptive-analytical investigation of the challenges of the current pandemic-imposed E-teaching of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses to female preparatory (PY) year students at King Khalid University (KKU). It identifies teachers' and students' responses about the ongoing issues with E-teaching of ESP with to put practical solutions to them. The study is conducted at The University Center for Girls' Studies- Al-Samir Campus-Abha during the academic year 2020-2021. Twenty English Language instructors at the English Language Center (ELC) and eighty students of the preparatory year at the College of Medicine enrolled in Intensive English Course (Njl-019) participated in the study. It adopts mixed qualitative methodology with the teachers' semi-structured interview and students' questionnaire as tools to collect data, and descriptive analysis as a method to interpret data. The study finds out reciprocity of teachers' and students' responses in pinpointing the factors posing serious challenges in teaching and learning ESP courses as majorly related to technology, pedagogy, and Assessment. Considering these challenges, the study puts forth practical suggestions to promote virtual teaching and learning of ESP courses. The suggested solutions are hoped to help providing successful standards for virtual ESP teaching and learning as per the constraints of quality modern education.
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- 2021
36. English Language Teaching in Saudi Arabia in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Positive Outcomes
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Al-Samiri, Reem A.
- Abstract
The pandemic of 2020 was a watershed moment for all educators worldwide as schools and universities were forced to close their doors to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Thus, a new movement towards widespread e-learning emerged with unknown consequences for learners and educators alike. The situation in Saudi Arabia was no exception. The purpose of this study is to explore how English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching and learning at the tertiary level in Saudi Arabia was impacted negatively and positively by the move to online learning. It reviews research published since the onset of the pandemic, with a specific focus on English language teaching at Saudi universities, to analyze the challenges faced by Saudi EFL teachers and learners since the shift to e-learning. One of the biggest challenges observed was students' lack of motivation, which upon further review was found to be linked to other contributing factors, such as technological issues, inapt learning environments, and students' mental health. This paper also examines the unforeseen positive outcomes resulting from the digital transformation, including the benefits of the flexibility of place and time and promotion of particular language skills. The current research synthesis will help contribute to the knowledge of online English teaching in the Saudi context.
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- 2021
37. Devices and Platforms Used in Emergency Remote Learning and Teaching during COVID-19: A Case of English Major Students in Saudi Arabia
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Al Shammari, Mishal H.
- Abstract
This study investigates the experiences of English major students at the College of Language and Translation (COLT) in King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, with Emergency Remote Learning and Teaching (ERLT) during the COVID-19 crisis. It focuses on the students' preferences for devices and platforms, and gender differences influencing their choices. The study is of significance because it considers the student-centered learning approaches. The paper also seeks to answer the question as to the factors that lead students to make their preferences for the online teaching tools and devices. A total of 150 students, both men, and women, participated in the study. An online survey was carried out in the form of questionnaires to elicit their responses. The results showed that laptop computers were the dominant devices students used and preferred. They also revealed that the Zoom platform came first in students' preferences, followed by Blackboard. Also, the findings showed that although participants used smartphones in their ERL, they did not recommend it, and it came last compared to laptops, tablets, and desktop computers in their order of preference. Gender differences existed in preferences to desktops and tablets in ERL. Another gender difference existed in preferences to platforms. Women students preferred Blackboard to Zoom while men students expressed the opposite.
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- 2021
38. Distance Education in Higher Education in Saudi Arabia in the Post-COVID-19 Era
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Alghamdi, Amani K. H., El-Hassan, Wai Si, Al-Ahdal, Arif A. M. H., and Hassan, Ahmed A.
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COVID-19 has changed the field of education. This paper aimed to re-envision the post-pandemic higher education landscape in Saudi Arabia. This study employed descriptive-qualitative research design. Twenty postgraduates completed a journal task at a public university in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The responses revealed their first-hand experience of multi-sectorial communities caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, including students, parents and teachers. Results showed that there are seven positive and eight negative impacts of emergency distance education caused by the pandemic lockdown and various themes have emerged, including Social and Educational. To succeed in the post-pandemic era, teachers need to acquire online pedagogical content knowledge and teaching strategies, conduct effective student evaluation and engage students in both virtual and in-person labs and classrooms. This study contributes to quality access of students toward online learning in countries, where distance education is still in its infant stage, such as Saudi Arabia.
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- 2021
39. Moderating Role of Gender in the Impact of E-Learning Quality on Students' Satisfaction and Performance during COVID-19 Pandemic
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AL Thnayan, Saleh Abdullah and Husain, Khalid Sami Mohamm
- Abstract
This paper aims to examine the impact of E-learning quality on students' satisfaction and performance before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of gender as a moderating variable. A descriptive and inferential approach was used where a specially designed questionnaire was distributed on a simple random sample of students enrolled in Public Security Training City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were gathered from 352 respondents. The multiple regression analysis was used to justify the proposed hypotheses. The study found that E-learning system quality and E-learning service quality positively impacted student satisfaction, which made a significant and positive impact on student performance. Moreover, gender played a moderating role in the relationship between E-learning system quality, E-learning service quality, and student satisfaction. Finally, it was found that the relationship between all variables during COVID-19 was stronger than relationships that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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- 2021
40. Self-Efficacy of Saudi English Majors after the Emergent Transition to Online Learning and Online Assessment during the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Amri, Zeineb and Alasmari, Nasser
- Abstract
This research explores the sense of self-efficacy among Saudi English majors at Jeddah University during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced all schools in Saudi Arabia to suspend face-to-face learning and, instead, use the online Blackboard platform. The study's objectives are to determine Blackboard's effect on Saudi learners' self-efficacy beliefs, identify factors influencing these beliefs in the online context, and determine the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and academic performance. Phone interviews, an online questionnaire, and online performance tests served as data collection instruments. The results indicate that urgent Blackboard use negatively affected the subjects' self-efficacy beliefs, and there is a positive, significant relationship between academic performance and perceived self-efficacy. Among other factors, familiarity with Blackboard, technical competence, and a readiness to embrace technology strongly influenced the students' self-efficacy beliefs. This paper also presents implications and pedagogical recommendations drawn from the results.
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- 2021
41. Is Internet Reciprocal Teaching the Remedy for Saudi EFL Learners' Reading Difficulties during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
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Alasmari, Nasser
- Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of Internet Reciprocal Teaching (IRT) for remedial English reading instruction in the EFL context, specifically for the purpose of overcoming the reading difficulties encountered by low-achieving Saudi students majoring in English at the University of Jeddah. The treatment phase lasted three months and, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shift to online teaching, the instruments used were an online pre- and post-test of reading comprehension, an IRT dialogue rubric downloaded on the Blackboard platform that is used for online teaching, as well as a phone interview conducted with randomly selected students from the sample. The findings indicated significant improvements in the reading comprehension of the Saudi learners participating this study, as reflected in the students' effective use of the different IRT strategies and the significant results of the post-test. However, despite the proved effectiveness of IRT in strengthening reading comprehension, some challenges were voiced by the participants. These include computer competency, familiarity with online courses and, most notably, their linguistic difficulties with English, which justified their resorting to their native language (Arabic) as one way of demonstrating their comprehension. Finally, the paper draws pedagogical implications from the research results.
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- 2021
42. The Issue of the Reading Skills in Medical Schools during the Coronavirus Pandemic
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Alhumsi, Mohammad Husam A.
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Beginning in early 2020, the world began experiencing the first effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As with other new emerging infectious diseases, it had been noted that a medical student's ability to read about and learn the correct reactions to this kind of event is urgent (Al-Mohrej & Agha, 2017). Therefore, medical school students should educate themselves and read the information provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to fully comprehend different features of the emerging disease as well as highlighting its early recognition and the important components of prevention. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to emphasize medical students' need to investigate new sources of information and how their success or failure in doing so depends on their reading comprehension strategies. For example, many medical students around the world lack the required knowledge pertaining to the recommended infection control measures. In Saudi Arabia, it has been revealed that medical students lack background knowledge in the basic sciences as well (Al-Mohrej and Agha, 2017). However, they showed a noticeable lack of awareness regarding the clinical features of MERS-CoV during the 2012 epidemic (Zaki et al., 2012). Additionally, problems relating to understanding the patient's medical condition, delayed diagnoses, and inadequate preventive services usage were complicated by their reading hardships. In addition, the medical college curricula lacked explicit instruction in reading comprehension strategies skills because the programs in medical education only included limited constituents of research skills. Such programs even today include very little explicit instruction of academic literacy for medical research (Roberts & Klamen, 2010; McNamara, 2010). Thus, medical students should educate themselves by reading the information provided by WHO and a call for more explicit instructional programs tackling the reading strategies pertaining to medical topics and research should be conducted.
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- 2021
43. Preparedness of Institutions of Higher Education for Assessment in Virtual Learning Environments during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Evidence of Bona Fide Challenges and Pragmatic Solutions
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Sharadgah, Talha Abdullah and Sa'di, Rami Abdulatif
- Abstract
Aim/Purpose: This study investigates the perceptions of faculty members at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia, towards preparedness of institutions of higher education (IHE) for assessment in virtual learning environments (VLEs) during the COVID-19 lockdown. In addition, the study explores evidence of bona fide challenges that impede the implementation of assessment in VLE for both formative and summative purposes, and it attempts to propose some pragmatic solutions. Background: Assessment of student performance is an essential aspect of teaching and learning. However, substantial challenges exist in assessing student learning in VLEs. Methodology: Data on faculty's perceptions were collected using an e-survey. Ninety-six faculty members took part in this study. Contribution: This paper contributes to COVID-19 research by investigating preparedness of IHE for assessment in VLEs from faculty members' perceptions. This practical research explores deleterious challenges that impede the implementation of assessment in VLE for both formative and summative purposes, and it proposes effective solutions to prevent future challenges. These solutions can be used by IHE to improve the quality of assessment in VLEs. Findings: The findings revealed that IHE were not fully prepared to provide a proper assessment in a VLE during the lockdown, nor did they have clear mechanisms for online assessment. The findings also showed that faculty members were not convinced that e-assessment could adequately assess all intended learning outcomes. They were convinced that most students cheated in a way or another. Additionally, faculty had other concerns about (1) the absence of advanced systems to prevent academic dishonesty; (2) insufficient qualifications of some faculty in e-assessment because most of them have never done it before, and e-assessment has never been mandated by the university before the pandemic; and (3) insufficient attention paid to formative assessment. Recommendations for Practitioners: It is recommended that decision makers help faculty members improve by continuous training on developing e-assessment tests for both formative and summative assessments. Decision makers should also ensure the inclusion of technology-based invigilation software to preclude cheating, make pedagogical and technical expertise available, and reconsider e-assessment mechanisms. Faculty members are recommended to attend training sessions if they do not master the basic skills of e-assessment and should devise a variety of innovative e-assessments for formative and summative purposes. Recommendations for Researchers: More similar work is needed to provide more solutions to the challenges identified in this paper regarding the e-assessment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Impact on Society: The study suggests introducing technology-based solutions to ensure e-assessment security, or holding tests in locations where they can be invigilated whilst rules of social distancing can still be applied. Future Research: Future research could suggest processes and mechanisms to help faculty develop assessment in VLEs more effectively.
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- 2020
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44. COVID-19 and the Digital Transformation of Saudi Higher Education
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Abdulrahim, Hiyam and Mabrouk, Fatma
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This paper examines the effectiveness of the fourth industrial revolution technologies in mitigating the COVID-19 effects on higher education, through using digital learning and technological work systems as substitutes for traditional learning and work systems in Saudi Arabia. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic, all universities shut down and continued its role of providing educational services and keeping work going on using digital learning and technological work systems. Using a survey implemented in different universities for various colleges directed to faculty staff and students, the study tries to explain how the fourth industrial revolution is influencing higher education and how universities are prepared to face their challenges resulted from COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. The study tries to explain how the fourth industrial revolution can play the role of catalyst for improving productivity, learning outcome, and wellbeing -work environment in these uncertain circumstances. Results display that digital learning is distinct compared to traditional learning, it improves the students learning outcome, enhance the faculty member's capabilities and implementation of technical systems, develops staff productivity and work environment.
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- 2020
45. E-Learning Critical Success Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Analysis of E-Learning Managerial Perspectives
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Alqahtani, Ammar Y. and Rajkhan, Albraa A.
- Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions were shut down all over the world, which impacted over 60% of students and caused a massive disruption of the education system. The goal of this paper was to identify the critical success factors for E-learning during COVID-19 using the multi-criteria Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) techniques to enhance the educational process. Data were generated by interviewing 69 E-learning managers in educational institutions during COVID-19 based on defined evaluation criteria and E-learning approaches through several channels. We found that technology management, support from management, increased student awareness to use E-learning systems, and demanding a high level of information technology from instructors, students, and universities were the most influential factors for E-learning during COVID-19. Among the five learning systems, blended learning was the most suitable learning system to practice. These results demonstrated that, regardless of how extraordinary the technology is in an educational institution, the readiness of E-learning execution played a large role in boosting the educational process during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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- 2020
46. Awareness and knowledge of COVID-19 infection control precautions and waste management among healthcare workers: Saudi cross-sectional study.
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Aleanizy FS and Alqahtani FY
- Subjects
- Adult, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 transmission, COVID-19 virology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Facilities standards, Health Personnel statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infection Control organization & administration, Infection Control statistics & numerical data, Male, Middle Aged, Pandemics prevention & control, Practice Guidelines as Topic, SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity, Saudi Arabia epidemiology, Surveys and Questionnaires statistics & numerical data, Young Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, COVID-19 prevention & control, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Infection Control standards, Medical Waste Disposal standards
- Abstract
Abstract: Healthcare workers (HWs) perform a critical role not only in the clinical management of patients but also in providing adequate infection control and prevention measures and waste management procedures to be implemented in healthcare facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and knowledge of COVID-19 infection control precautions and waste management procedures among HWs in Saudi Arabian hospitals.This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Information on knowledge, awareness, and practice of infection control and waste management procedures were obtained from the HWs using a structured questionnaire. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.Our findings indicated that most of the study participants were knowledgeable, with a mean score of 78.3%. In total, 92.5%, 90.3%, and 91.7% of the participants were aware of the infection control precautions, COVID-19 waste management procedures, the availability of infection control supplies, respectively. HWs' Knowledge regarding waste management and infection control procedures correlated significantly with sex (P ≤ .001 and <.001), education (P = .024 and .043), and working experience (P = .029 and .009), respectively.Most participants appreciated the importance of their role in infection control, surveillance, and monitoring of the ongoing safety practices in their patients as well as their facilities and communities., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)
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- 2021
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47. Analysis of funding landscape for health policy and systems research in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A scoping review of the literature over the past decade.
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Fadlallah, Racha, El-Jardali, Fadi, Chidiac, Nesrin, Daher, Najla, and Harb, Aya
- Subjects
LITERATURE reviews ,HEALTH policy ,COVID-19 ,INTERNATIONAL agencies ,LOW-income countries - Abstract
Background: Health policy and systems research (HPSR) can strengthen health systems and improve population health outcomes. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), there is limited recognition of the importance of HPSR and funding remains the main challenge. This study seeks to: (1) assess the reporting of funding in HPSR papers published between 2010 and 2022 in the EMR, (2) examine the source of funding in the published HPSR papers in the EMR and (3) explore variables influencing funding sources, including any difference in funding sources for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related articles. Methods: We conducted a rapid scoping review of HPSR papers published between 2010 and 2022 (inclusively) in the EMR, addressing the following areas: reporting of funding in HPSR papers, source of funding in the published HPSR papers, authors' affiliations and country of focus. We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for conducting scoping reviews. We also conducted univariate and bivariate analyses for all variables at 0.05 significance level. Results: Of 10,797 articles screened, 3408 were included (of which 9.3% were COVID-19-related). More than half of the included articles originated from three EMR countries: Iran (n = 1018, 29.9%), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (n = 595, 17.5%) and Pakistan (n = 360, 10.6%). Approximately 30% of the included articles did not report any details on study funding. Among articles that reported funding (n = 1346, 39.5%), analysis of funding sources across all country income groups revealed that the most prominent source was national (55.4%), followed by international (41.7%) and lastly regional sources (3%). Among the national funding sources, universities accounted for 76.8%, while governments accounted for 14.9%. Further analysis of funding sources by country income group showed that, in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, all or the majority of funding came from international sources, while in high-income and upper-middle-income countries, national funding sources, mainly universities, were the primary sources of funding. The majority of funded articles' first authors were affiliated with academia/university, while a minority were affiliated with government, healthcare organizations or intergovernmental organizations. We identified the following characteristics to be significantly associated with the funding source: country income level, the focus of HPSR articles (within the EMR only, or extending beyond the EMR as part of international research consortia), and the first author's affiliation. Similar funding patterns were observed for COVID-19-related HPSR articles, with national funding sources (78.95%), mainly universities, comprising the main source of funding. In contrast, international funding sources decreased to 15.8%. Conclusion: This is the first study to address the reporting of funding and funding sources in published HPSR articles in the EMR. Approximately 30% of HPSR articles did not report on the funding source. Study findings revealed heavy reliance on universities and international funding sources with minimal role of national governments and regional entities in funding HPSR articles in the EMR. We provide implications for policy and practice to enhance the profile of HPSR in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2024
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48. Faculty Members' Attitudes and Practices: How They Responded to Forced Adoption of Distance Education?
- Author
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Alsubaie, Merfat Ayesh, Alzarah, Layla Nasser, and Alhemly, Fatmah Abdulrahman
- Abstract
In 2020, the world faced a sudden change and general disruption that included all aspects of life because of the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. It has made the whole world adopt general and comprehensive emergency measures that have affected every sector, including health, business, and especially education. In order to continue the education process, educators have responded by adopting distance education. This paper explored the attitudes, practices, and emotions of faculty members in a college of education toward the forced adoption and educational transformation to distance education during the corona pandemic. A coding approach was used to analyze 20 reflective articles, which revealed main themes related to difficulties and challenges. The findings highlight skills and experiences that were gained. Hence, the findings promote that faculty members understand professional practices and behaviors in using distance education as an emergency solution for supporting the education process.
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- 2022
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49. An Investigation of Parental Perspectives on the Efficiency of Online Schooling in Primary Schools during the COVID-19 Outbreak
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Algaraady, Jeehaan and Alrahaili, Musaad
- Abstract
This paper aims to explore parents' satisfaction and awareness towards online schooling efficiency using Saudi online learning platform (Madrasati) in the first three grades of primary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and to potentially alternate face-to-face classroom learning post-pandemic. It focuses on the advantages and disadvantages. A survey-based questionnaire is used to collect data from 99 parents and a mixed-method of qualitative and quantitative is applied. The descriptive statistical method is used to analyse the data. The findings indicated that, however, this modality has disadvantages and is stressful for parents as their kids' progress relies heavily on their support; the parents and their kids generally had positive beliefs about online schooling and highly recommended the implementation of online learning after the pandemic. It is recommended for successful and efficient online schooling, the Ministry of Education policymakers should enhance and support online pedagogical methods, teachers' training courses, and appropriate curricula.
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- 2022
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50. Online Learning Effectiveness during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Saudi Universities
- Author
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Mahyoob, Mohammad
- Abstract
This paper is set out to explore the students' attitudes towards online learning effectiveness using the Blackboard platform in three public Saudi universities (Taibah, Hail, and Al-Baha) during COVID- 19 pandemic. It examines the learning activities which ensure the achievement of education quality during unprecedented online learning. The survey based- questionnaire method was used to elicit students' responses. The numbers of students who participated in the survey are 333. The main section of the questionnaire contains questions about the main online learning activities. The coefficient relation of the p-value is highly correlated when tested using Pearson's r and Spearman's. The score of Cronbach's Alpha is (0.93) which indicates (greater internal consistency) an acceptable level of reliability. The findings positively emphasize the effective influence of online learning on student's academic achievements in most of learning factors except in an assessment factor where the development of new assessment methods is needed.
- Published
- 2021
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