Improving the Education in Al-Baha University by Using ICT Systems - Research Proposal Example

Running Head: Improving the Education in Al-Baha University by using ICT systems Researcher Name: Supervisor’s Name: Date of Submission: CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.0 Overview This section deals with the description of background to the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, objectives of the study, research questions, justification of the study, scope and limitations of the study, assumptions of the study and theoretical framework. 1.1 Background of the Study Having a modern education system is important to equipping students with skill and knowledge which is required to have a productive working force that is needed for country’s economic growth. Worldwide, countries like America, Russia, Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, and Italy are referred to as developed countries and this is exemplified in the advancement of technology and industrialization. These countries which are highly developed and also those seen as developing very fast, for example Korea, gave first priority to science and Technology and this was possible because of the set up of their education systems. The educational systems of developing countries have not completely missed the technological revolution, but technology has yet to impact on them in the ways it has in the first world countries. A closer look at developing countries, such as Saudi Arabia illustrates that technology has yet to be fully integrated into all education venues (Hawkridge, 1990). 1.1.2 Background of the study area Al Baha University was recently established which is located in the Al-Baha city in Saudi Arabia. Given that it was recently established, all the departments were started from scratch, allowing modern curricula and current teaching technologies to be employed in the university programs. The university has 23 departments which offer a wide variety of majors. The university with the supervision of Umm Al-Qura University started with a number of. The university now is undergoing a development plan to build the main campus. Plans for more academic programs are in consideration contingent to the progress of construction. 1.2 Statement of the problem Although there has been a lot of improvement since the establishment of the university in 2006, there is need to improve on the quality of education in Al-Baha University. It has been abserved from the introductory part of the study that modern and up-to-date technology is vital to the education quality. This poor performance is impacting negatively on the economic development and the general growth of the university. University education forms the backbone of technology advancement of any nation. It serves as a vehicle of technological development. The question is can the usage of ICT system for teaching improves the quality of results produced in Al-Baha University? 1.3 Purpose of the study The purpose of the study was to establish the how ICT systems can be used in improving education in Al-Baha university. 1.4 Objectives of the study The main objective of the study will to investigate the impact of ICT systems on education quality in the university. The specific objectives include:- 1. To determine the adequacy of ICT infrastructure and quality of teaching in the Al-Bha. 2. To find the impact of ICT resources used by lecturers on quality of their results. 3. To establish the effect of teaching using ICT in the Al-Baha university 1.4 Research Questions To address the above objectives, the following research questions were used; 1. Is there any relationship between using ICT system in learning and quality of results in Al-Baha university? 2. What is the impact of ICT resources used by lecturers on quality of their of the education results in Al-Baha university? 3. What are the effects of teaching using ICT systems in Al-Baha university? 1.5 Significance of the study This study aims at providing findings that can be used by: 1. Management of each institution to improve on their ICT systems so as to enhance coverage of syllabus and improve the quality of results produced by lecturers. 2. The government to come up with policies that will enhance the usage of ICT systems for teaching purposes in the universities in the country. 3. To the Lecturers to enhance their skills in ICT and be able to embrace ICT systems in teaching. 1.6 Theoretical framework This study will adopt system approach as a theoretical framework. The system approach regard organization as a social system consisting of individuals who operate within a framework, drawing resources from their environment and putting back into that environment their products or services (Norman, 2001). According to David (1998), system approach look at the different parts of an interacting set of activities as a whole and considers the best way for the whole to function. The aim of a system approach is to use an abstract view of the total system and then to operate each sub-system according to the defined best way for complete system. Hence this study will seek on the best way where students can get skills and knowledge from the environment using ICT systems and give back a competitive working to the society. 1.8 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 1.9 Introduction This section outlines the methodology and procedures and modalities that will be used in data collection. It also covers research design, determination and identification of the population sample size, sampling design, sampling procedure, the instruments of data collection, validity and reliability of data collected, sources of data, methods of collecting data and methods of analyzing the data. 1.10 Research Design Survey design was used to conduct this study. According to Kothari (2004), surveys are used to systematically gather factual quantifiable information necessary for decision making. Surveys are efficient methods of collecting descriptive data regarding the characteristics of populations, current practices and conditions or needs (Kothari, 2005). The descriptive survey approach is chosen for the present study, because it seeks to gain insight into a phenomenon as a means of providing basic information in an area of study (Bless and Higson-Smith 1995). Area of study This study will be conducted in Al-Baha university . 1.11 Population The target population for the study Comprises administrators, Lecturers and Technicians Al-Baha university. Table 3.1 Target Population Category Target population 1 Lecturers of Al-Baha university 200 out of482 2 Administrators of Al-Baha university 74 out of 100 3 Institutions technicians(in ICT departments) 20 out of 72 Total 234 out of 628 Source: WKSS- 2010 1.12 Sampling procedure and sample Size Sampling is a procedure of selecting a part of population on which research can be conducted, which ensures that conclusions from the study can be generalized to the entire population. The researcher made use of stratified random and Systematic random sampling technique. Stratified random sampling is the process of selecting a sample in such a way that identified subgroups in the population are represented in the sample in the same proportion as they exist in the population (Frankel, et al, 2000 pp.108). This type of probability sampling is easy to implement and stratification induced can make efficient (Frankel, et al, 2000). 1.13 Research tools and instruments of data collection The research tools used to collect the data for the study were questionnaires, interviews, observations and document analysis since the data is both qualitative and quantitative. The selection of these tools was based on the nature of the data to be collected, the objective of the study and the time available. 1.13.1 Questionnaires The construction of questionnaires will be based on the research objectives. Questionnaires are justified on the basis that they are free from the researcher’s bias, they allow respondents to answer in their own words, and they give enough time to the respondent to go through the questions, and can reach as many respondents as possible. 1.13.2 Interviews The researcher will employe interview methods on areas where questionnaires would not have captured the responses to satisfactory level. They were also used to strengthen the information from the questionnaires (Kothari, 2005). 1.13.3 Observation Observation focused on the ICT teaching facilities. The observation was done to compliment the information that was captured by the questionnaires (Koul, 1992). Observation schedule focused information that is different from interviews or questionnaires. 1.14 Data Collection procedure Data collection will conducted using questionnaire as the main data collection tool. The questions will subdivided into sections to capture the response and details that will be required as per the objectives. The researcher will collect data from the selected respondents after receiving permission from the Al-Baha university authority to carry out research in the identified area of study. REFERENCES Bless C. and Higson Smith (1995) Fundamental of social research method. An African Perspective 2nd edition Jutai Kenwyn Fouché C.B. & Delport, C.S.L. (1998). Research at the grass roots: for social sciences and human services professions (2nd edn.). Pretoria, Van Schaik: 127- 136. Frankel, J. R., and Wallen, N. E. (2000). How to design and evaluate research in Education. London, U.K: McGraw Hill. Harris, S (1999) “Inset for IT: a review of the literature relating to preparation for and use of IT in schools” National Foundation for Educational Research, UK Hawkridge, D. 1990. Computers in Third World Schools. The example of China. British journal of educational technology, 21 (1): 4-20. Katz and Kahn (1966) The Social Psychology of Organization, Heinemann, London. Kerlinger, F. (1978), Foundations of Behavioral Research. New Delhi: Sarjeet Publishers. Kothari (2004) Research methodology New Age international (p) limited, publishers Koul, L. (1992). Methodology in educational research. New Delhi: Vikas Press. Mugenda, O.M. & Mugenda, A.G. (2003). Research Methods, Acts Press, Nairobi. Read More