Encouraging effective blended learning in higher education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Areej Al-Jahni, Heather Skinner, Salah Obayya

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Studies into effective blended learning are most frequently applied to a Western context, lacking any significant body of literature relating to the Arab world. While this may be unsurprising given different rates of adoption of technology enhanced learning, and different models of HE in various countries, there is a need for studies that consider effective blended learning in a variety of cultural contexts that reflect the various blended learning communities it serves. The education budget in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest in the Middle East. The Kingdom has established a number of universities and supported several educational projects, such as the King Abdullah project to develop the education Affiliate to the Ministry of Education, and has also established the National Centre for e-learning and distance education of the Ministry of Higher Education. More insights into the factors and approaches which can improve connections between the virtual and physical elements of blended courses within universities are urgently needed in Saudi Arabia (Badawi, 2009). This paper will therefore present a case study examining the adoption of blended learning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to explore how blended learning can transform Higher Education effectively in the context of the Arab world, leading to improvements in the learning experience and mapping out pathways to success for everyone committed to blended learning, including tertiary administrative leaders, faculty members, instructional designers and students. This will be informed by comparisons with a wide range of real-world examples from the United States of America, Europe and Asia. This case study can contribute to providing useful information to policy makers and decision makers in the public and private higher education sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who are looking for solutions to these problems as they embrace a blended approach to learning.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 16 Jun 2010
Event Developing Blended Learning Communities’ International Blended Learning Conference - University of Hertfordshire
Duration: 16 Jun 201017 Jun 2010

Presentation

Presentation Developing Blended Learning Communities’ International Blended Learning Conference
Period16/06/1017/06/10

Keywords

  • blended learning
  • cultural context
  • saudi arabia

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