This is proposal for my PHD study
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the blended
learning Experience in Saudi electronic University
from Male Students' Perceptions.
Name: Sulaiman Alshathri
Email address: s-aal@hotmail.com
Mobile telephone number :07411655157
Word count:456
Student number : 201205850
1. Introduction
SEU is the first electronic university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in
the Arab world (http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/15/220871.html
2012). SEU have realized the Importance of blending face-to-face with online
instruction when developing new educational processes. The rapid
developments in Saudi Higher Education have led University to move with
this international trend.
1.2 Purpose of the Research
To serve this study aim of evaluating the effectiveness of the blended learning
experience in SEU from male learners' perceptions, the purpose of the
research process is to provide data for this evaluation by measuring the range
of the learners' perceptions of their abilities to learn autonomously through
blended learning, their subjective rating of their interaction with content,
instructors and each other in blended learning, their summations of blended
learning positives and negatives and their perceptions of barriers facing
blended learning and its requirements and possible improvements. The
purpose of the study as a whole is to provide a resource and a framework to
university who planned to develop or upgrade their blended learning program
in this way, so that they could perceive possibilities and make informed
choices about their planned innovations.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Evaluation
It is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning at university
in order to identify the realities of blended learning, to support the positives
and avoid the negatives, thus helping to attract efforts and money to achieve
the goals of blended learning. This evaluation must lead to development and
the development must be based on the evaluation s result (Reeves and
Hedberg, 2003).
2.2 The Concept of Blended Learning
The most common definition refers to an integration of online learning and
traditional face-to-face learning. Graham (2006) indicates that online (webbased) learning and face-to-face learning have remained largely separate in
the past due to the differences in their methods and audience needs. He points
out that 100% online learning, or distance learning, requires more self-paced
learning and learner-materials interactions when compared with (traditional)
face-to-face learning that places priority on human-human interaction.
3. Research methodology
Research questions :
1. What is the extent of the learner’s perceptions of their abilities to learn
autonomously through blended learning?
2. What is the extent of learner’s perceptions of their interaction with content,
Instructors and between themselves in blended learning?
3. What are the positives and negatives of blended learning according to the
learners Perceptions?
4. What are the learner’s perceptions of the requirements and barriers facing
blended learning and their suggestions for the improvement of blended
learning?
The questionnaire and focus group interviews will use as the most appropriate
tools for information gathering for this study.
The questionnaire answered the first and second sub-questions about learners
abilities to learn autonomously through blended learning and the extent of
their interaction with the content, instructors and colleagues. After analyzing
the questionnaires a focus group interview will conduct to answer the third
and fourth sub-questions about the positives and negatives, and the
requirements for and barriers to blended learning and to collect suggestions
for the development of blended learning.