The Contributions of Web 20 in E-Learning in Saudi Arabia - Research Paper Example

?Introduction The relevance and importance of E-learning to all levels of education in any given society has been felt over the years. Most governments and educational institutions have now realized that this is the perfect time of focusing on the benefits of E-Learning (Rosenberg, 2001). One of the nation’s supporting E-Learning in its Educational institutions is Saudi Arabia. According to Madar research, the E-Learning industry in Saudi Arabia has grown significantly over the past three years. The research suggested that it is projected to reach over $200 million and gradually increase over the next three years (Saudi Gazette, 2008). Very many studies and researches have been carried out with the aim of promoting E-Learning as a means of fostering better education in the world (Webster & Hackley, 1997). Most of these researches have failed to contribute to the development of E-Learning due to various reasons especially in Saudi Arabia. One of the main reasons maybe their failure in assessing the relationship between Web 2.0 and E-Learning. Students in Saudi Arabia have shown less or no interest in using E-Learning as compared to their counterparts in Ukraine and Russia (Al-Jarf, 2004). Students are although still reluctant to accept E-Learning (Alenezi, Veloo, Karim, 2010, Al-Jarf, 2007). Several factors have been found to have significance contribution to the acceptance and use of E-Learning (Yi et al., 2001; Galletta et al., 1995). One of the factors that have had significance influence on E-Learning is the Web 2.0 technology. The use of Web 2.0 is on the increase; moreover, Web 2.0 features such as social networks have made enormous changes to various aspects of our lives. People involved with social networks can share their opinions, photos and videos, and they can learn many things that relate to their studies and their lives (Weaver & Morrison, 2008; Bemis-Dougherty, 2010). This research aims at establishing what contributions Web 2.0 technology has had on online E-Learning in Saudi Arabia. Aims of the research This research aims at: To spread the culture of technology that helps to create an e-learning community. To provide higher education for people who do not have the opportunity to join a university. Objectives There are several reasons as to why this research is significant and they are: To examine the number of users on Web 2.0 on education purposes To investigate challenges of using Web 2.0 on E-learning To provide an opportunity for many users to learn through Web 2.0 To determine how to reduce the cost of education using e-learning To determine how to boost the confidence of people who want to share To compare the gender differences as far as the use of Web 2.0 is concerned To determine the value of Web 2.0 for students To identify the barriers of using Web 2.0 in Saudi Arabia To determine the popular uses of Web 2.0 by students Literature review In this research, literature review will come from various studies and work from different information designs concerning with World Wide Web. Reports and other representations from individual researchers, as pertains this subject matter, will be used. Different reports that attribute to the effects of using the web, especially Web 2.0., on E-learning will be used to support the research. The researcher will determine the contribution of Web 2.0 in supporting e-learning in Saudi Arabia as discussed below. Examples of Web 2.0 support of E-learning Web 2.0 includes social network sites. One way of distributing information is to have the society accept it. E-learning is hugely enhanced by social networks. All ages are encompassed in this network. Every age is represented in this network. Information is easily shared if people consider it to fun. In order to embed a new culture into a society, the society must accept and welcome the new culture. Blogging is also provided by Web 2.0 where information is shared amongst a focus group, and each is allowed to give feedback. This is the best way of dialogue. A topic is provided, and people can give their views concerning the subject. There is freedom of speech and thoughts. A society welcomes issues that have no exceptions whatsoever. The availability of user transparency; where the user privacy cannot be compromised. This will work best in a society that has many cultural limitations. Web 2.0 also consists of video sharing. Video sharing in E-learning provides the personal touch between the student and teacher. It makes the students have confidence in the information that is offered. Wikis is also included into the Web 2.0. Wikis is data sources on any topic. Even those with no access to a learning institution can find relevant information on Web 2.0. This because, with Web 2.0, information can easily be accessed by everyone. Due to the religious limitations imposed on women in Saudi Arabia, a woman can easily access information on relevant topics from the comfort of the house with the advent of Web 2.0. Research Approach and Methodology The proposed research will be carried out in three distinct phases. Phase 1 will involve performing literature review in order to uncover useful information related to Web 2.0 and E-Learning. The second phase will involve qualitative investigation to provide detailed insight on important aspects of Web 2.0 technology in the world. It will also seek to establish how different countries have utilized it to improve and increase the acceptance of E-Learning. The finale phase; phase three will involve the use of a well-structured questionnaire designed with insight from phase two to establish how Web 2.0 can contribute to the development of E-Learning in Saudi Arabia. The research methodology that will be applied by this study has been chosen with the aim of acquiring information and drawing conclusions about the Web 2.0 and its contribution to the development of E-Learning in Saudi Arabia. Purpose of the Study and Type of Investigation The main purposes of this research is to obtain an insight on the contribution of Web 2.0 to E-Learning with a focus on Saudi Arabia in order to suggest ways of improving and increasing the acceptance of E-Learning in the Saudi Arabian society. For the above reason, this research will take an exploratory approach. An exploratory approach means that the study will look at the problem in a descriptive and explorative way. This research approach is preferred when one aims at finding out "the situation of something, to seek new perspective" or "to ask questions or to assess an observable facts in a new dimension," (Robson, 2002). Using the exploratory approach, we will provide you with very detailed qualitative information. The research will majorly focus on exploring and understanding the features of Web 2.0 and E-Learning. It will explore how Web 2.0 has influenced the E-learning industry. We will then employ quantitative research to evaluate and measure how far or widespread the Saudi population has embraced E-Learning. This study will employ the fundamental ways of carrying out an exploratory research, which include literature review, consulting the experts about the subject matter and conducting a survey. Data Collection In order to achieve the resaerch objectives, secondary and primary data will be collected. Secondary data collected will be useful in the formation of background information that the researcher will need in order to constructively build on the project and by the readers for easy and thorough comprehension of the survey outcome. Primary data on the other hand will be gathered in two ways. First, a questionnaire survey will be conducted to try find out how the Saudi people view E-Learning and whether they are willing to embrace and accept it. Secondly, interviews will also be carried out with the experts Web 2.0 technology to ascertain how Web 2.0 has contributed to E-Learning. Sampling Design Preferably, a researcher will want to study an entire population. This however, is usually impractical or not viable and thus, one must resolve to use a sample. According to Black and Champion (1976), a sample is a section of elements taken from a populace, which is considered as a representative of the population. To be able to collect primary data, the questionnaire survey technique will be employed. Due to the nature of this research, random probability sampling will be used. Sample sizes less than 500, and larger than 30 are appropriate for most studies (Rescoe, 1975). Putting these limitations into considerations, the sample size that will be used comprises 200 questionnaires, designed for students using E-Learning, educational institutions, and the practitioners of information Technology The Questionnaire Survey A questionnaire is a self-reporting tool used for collecting information about items of interest to study. For the purpose of this research, closed-ended questions have been developed in order to call for responses. This reduces the field of enquiry, since the respondents are tied down to fixed answers. Close-ended questions also assist the researcher to analyze the data easily and efficiently. Surveys are flexible and can therefore be easily used among people if all ages and can be repeated from one respondent to the next (Kotler, 1994; Aaker & Day, 1990). Close-ended questions may also lead to bias since subjects are tied down to limited specific replies. The Interview Survey Semi-structured face-to-face interview technique is often used in order to achieve the intended research objectives. This is because it is the most flexible and resourceful method of communication which enables impulsiveness, and provides the ability of directing the discussion back to the outlined topic when they are unfruitful. One drawback of this technique is its costly nature, its time consuming and may lead to bias by respondents’ desires of pleasing the interviewer (Aaker & Day, 1990: 164). Due the nature of this project and its objectives, face-to-face interviews will be conducted with two important groups: Web 2.0 experts and Educational Institutions using E-Learning. Conclusion Web 2.0 provides the connection of all the objects in our daily life using the internet. Unlike the normal web, Web 2.0 provides more than just the retrieval of information. It provides both the three foundations of communication devices; the user interface, facilities for storage and software to run the whole application. Web 2.0 will cut across the whole platforms. Religious platforms, education foundations, information accessibility will all be covered. Therefore, it is imperative to examine the contributions of Web 2.0 in influencing the development and acceptance of E-Learning in Saudi Arabia. Reference Al-Jarf, R. (2007, March). Cultural issues in online collaborative learning in EFL. Al-Jarf, R. (2004, June). Intercultural Communication: Saudi, Ukrainian and Russian Students online. Gazette. (2008, April). Business: Kingdom's e-learning industry to reach $125 million this year. Saudi Gazette online, Retrieved from http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=200804244097 Galletta, D. F., Ahuja, M., Hartman, A., Teo, T., & Peace, A. G. (1995). Social influence and end-user training. Communications of the ACM, 38(7), 70-79. 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