Male, T; Alshathri, A; (2015) Students and Instructors Perceptions of Blended Learning in the First Electronic University in the Arab World (Saudi Electronic University). In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Conference of the British Education Studies Association (BESA). British Education Studies Association (BESA): Cardiff, UK.

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Abstract

Colleges and universities in Saudi Arabia are confronted with challenges to improve the quality of education and to make higher education available to a vast and increasing number of students. The Ministry of Education identified distance learning as one possible answer to the challenge, but research has shown students prefer regular face to face contact with teaching staff. The significant presence of web-based instruction over the last few years has led to the emergence of the term Blended Learning, which is also called hybrid learning or mixed- mode learning. Traditionally online (web-based) learning and face-to-face learning have remained largely separate in the past due to the differences in their methods and audience needs. With innovations in technologies, however, facilitating human interaction in synchronous and asynchronous learning has encouraged the integration of face- to-face learning with the online environment. The responsibility for leading development in the use of technologies in HE is with the Saudi Electronic University (SEU) which is the first electronic university in the Kingdom and in the Arab world. SEU has sought to remodel its educational system to integrate blended learning and the aims of this proposed research study are to identify the perceptions of students and academic staff of the advantages, challenges and future presented by this model of learning. This paper seeks to establish the mechanisms by which the effectiveness of these proposed changes to the learning environment can be evaluated. The empirical research design is intended to identify issues, solutions to problems, complexities encountered, strengths and weaknesses of the move to blended learning at SEU.

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