Papers by Prof. Ali Al Musawi Emeritus Professor
Education Journal, 2024
The increasing role of learning resources, electronic publishing, and the emergence of new innova... more The increasing role of learning resources, electronic publishing, and the emergence of new innovations in LRCs necessitate significant changes in educational schemes, systems, methods, and resources. Studies highlight the significance of a school resource center in aiding students and teachers in designing, producing, using, and delivering resource materials, improving classroom environments, and providing a diverse range of learning resources. This study examines the perceived and expected service quality at the Learning Resources Center of Seeb International School in Oman. As well as investigating the significant differences in service quality due to some variables (gender, job, and experience). Utilizing the SERVQUAL model, the research explores five dimensions of service quality: reliability, responsiveness, assurance, tangibility, and empathy. The sample group comprised 15 participants, including teachers and administrators. The findings indicate that participants at Seeb International School's LRC perceive a higher level of service quality than predicted by the SERVQUAL model, with favorable opinions and high mean scores suggesting their expectations have been met or exceeded. The analysis reveals that gender does not significantly impact perceived service quality, but job category influences perceptions, with administrators rating service quality lower than teachers. Additionally, experience plays a significant role, as participants with more experience rate service quality higher than those with less experience. These results contribute to understanding service quality at the LRC of private schools in Oman and provide valuable insights for school administrators to enhance their learning resource services.
The Effectiveness of a 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environment (3D-VRLE) on the Omani Eighth Grade Students' Achievement and Motivation towards Physics Learning, 2020
This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environment the Om... more This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environment the Omani 8th-grade students' achievement and motivation towards physics learning. To achieve the study objectives, data were collected using two instruments: an achievement test and a motivation questionnaire. The sample consisted of sixty-five female students. They were divided into two groups, (32) students in the experimental group and (33) students in the control group. The findings of this research study indicated a greater improvement in students' achievement in physics after using the 3D-VRLE compared to their counterparts in the traditional learning environment. Furthermore, the results showed that the 3D-VRLE has a positive effect on students' motivation towards physics learning. In the light of these findings, the study recommended the importance of using the 3D-VRLE in the Ministry of Education schools. Research areas for future investigation in the field of the 3D-VRLEs were also suggested.
The Design Principles of 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environment (3D-VRLE) in Science Education, 2021
Background: 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environments (3D-VRLEs) have proven effective in stimulat... more Background: 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environments (3D-VRLEs) have proven effective in stimulating student engagement in teaching and learning processes. However, some principles should be considered before introducing and implementing these learning environments in science education. This paper aims to document the principles that guide the design and development of the 3D-VRLE in science education and to draw the implications for the Omani educational context. Methods: A design-based research (DBR) methodology was conducted to gather data using two instruments: literature review and semi-structured interviews. One specialist developer and two Subject Matter Experts were selected for interviews using purposeful sampling. The in-person interviews consisted of seven questions and a three-hour discussion. The questions were centered on the technological features of 3D-VRLE applications, the instructional design process used to develop these educational applications, and the design principles used in their development. Keywords used for the literature review included biology, physics, chemistry, science, DBR, 3D-virtual reality, lab, and learning environment. Inductive thematic analysis was used as a technique for analyzing the interview data. Results: The findings pointed to a systematic and planned design process for 3D-VRLE in accordance with the ADDIE model. It was found that the design principles of the 3D-VRLE should include authentic and instructionally grounded systems, a collaborative and motivating environment, and student-centered instruction. Conclusion: 3D-VRLEs may have significant implications for the teaching of science in terms of the physical arrangement of classrooms, the way the teacher delivers the topic, the number of students in the classroom, and the type of technology that needs to be adopted in schools. This study presented the blueprints required by Omani science curriculum designers for the design/development of 3D-VRLE. This allows them to take the initiative in design and production of relevant learning materials and products and use them effectively in the educational context of Oman.
Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, 2023
The study aimed to establish a digital economy base in the education sector, instill a digital ec... more The study aimed to establish a digital economy base in the education sector, instill a digital economic culture in institutions and individuals, build an effective educational digital economy, activate its role in facing the education sector's challenges and know the reality and requirements necessary to activate. The qualitative approach was used, and many local and global subject-relevant studies and documents were analysed. Several results were reached, the most important: education in the Sultanate of Oman faces several challenges, including (reliance on the government as a primary financing source, lack of income source diversification, high costs of technical projects, Fourth Industrial Revolution requirements, and legislative regulations that are not supportive of technology investment. The Ministry of Education`s efforts contributed to the digital transformation during the COVID-19 pandemic by facing the crisis and reducing educational and economic losses. Currently, there is no planned investment for the technical projects applied in the ministry economically. The digital economy contributes to diversifying income sources and reducing the burden on the budget. The digital economy activates education through technology production, application, and investment. Among the requirements for activating the digital economy at the institutional level (digital transformation, technological investment supporting plans, instilling a digital economy culture, processes re-engineering, enabling policies and legislation system, updating structural systems, establishing technological infrastructure, strategic decision). At the educational process level (modifying the study plan, including technology study materials, providing laboratories and a stimulating environment, activities, and events to support innovation in schools, motivating and supporting innovators by the government and private sectors, and encouraging technological investment).
Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, 2023
This study aims to compare how students perceive and use social media networks (SMNs) in both Oma... more This study aims to compare how students perceive and use social media networks (SMNs) in both Omani and Russian higher education institutions. An extensive literature survey was conducted through which the content of the questionnaire was compiled in English, validated for its content, clarity and accuracy by Russian and Omani reviewers and then translated. Data was collected from 837 undergraduate Russian and Omani students using online Google Forms. The results indicate a moderate level of SMNs use in both Higher Education Institution (HEIs) contexts with cross-platform mobile applications at the top of list of the SMNs used by both groups for social connections and multimedia sharing. The overall perceptions towards SMNs seem to be neutral among Russian and Omani students followed by positive perceptions. The study recommends that teachers in both countries provide 'attractive' academic content through a social and multimedia design approach.
The International Journal of Diversity in Education
Although there are many studies on diversity in education, the beliefs and expectation of preserv... more Although there are many studies on diversity in education, the beliefs and expectation of preservice teachers towards diversity are sometimes neglected in Omani higher education, which typically give minimal attention to issues of diversity or to reflective discourse in their coursework. This study examines preservice teachers’ beliefs about diversity as key aspect in improving educational practices. The quantitative-descriptive study was carried out with 319 preservice teachers enrolled in the college of education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Oman. . The results show that preservice teachers ranked diversification of teaching methods as their strongest belief around teaching learners from diverse backgrounds. The analysis revealed a significant relationship between diversity and the two variables of nationality and age. One of the most significant findings from the one-way analysis of variance was that their opinions regarding diversity did not differ according to the gender of pre-service teachers. The discussion focused on the importance of preparing preservice teachers for dealing with diverse students in institutions of higher education.
National Workshop For Basic Education Supervisors on Preparing Teachers and Their Assistants- Organized by The Islamic UNESCO (ISESCO), 2007
مجمع: مجلة جامعة المدينة العالمية بماليزيا, 2021
International Conference on Information and Communication Technology, 2017
مجلة العلوم التربوية والنفسية- جامعة البحرين, 2022
هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى معرفة الآثار التربوية لجائحة فيروس كورونا (COVID-19) المستجد على التعليم الم... more هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى معرفة الآثار التربوية لجائحة فيروس كورونا (COVID-19) المستجد على التعليم المدرسي من وجهة نظر المعلمين والطلبة، وهي جزء من مشروع بحثي وطني، تم تمويله من وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي والابتكار بسلطنة عمان. ولتحقيق هدف الدراسة صُممت استبانتان: واحدة للمعلمين وأخرى للطلبة، وبعد التأكد من صدقهما وثباتهما طبقتا على عينة الدراسة التي بلغت (289) معلما ومعلمة، وعلى عينة الطلبة البالغ عددها (704) طالب وطالبة من المدارس الحكومية والخاصة للصفوف (1-12) في أربع محافظات تعليمية. وقد أوضحت نتائج الدراسة أن مستوى الآثار التربوية لجائحة فيروس كورونا (COVID-19) المستجد على التعليم المدرسي من وجهة نظر المعلمين كانت كبيرة، كما بينت النتائج عدم وجود فروق دالة إحصائيا عن هذه الآثار في التفاعل بين النوع والحلقة الدراسية التي يدرّس فيها المعلم والخبرة التدريسية بالسنوات من وجهة نظر المعلمين، وبالنسبة لعينة الطلبة فقد أشارت النتائج إلى أن مستوى الآثار التربوية لجائحة فيروس كورونا كانت متوسطة من وجهة نظرهم، وكذلك بينت النتائج عدم وجود فروق دالة إحصائيا عن هذه الآثار في التفاعل بين الحلقة الدراسية والمحافظة التعليمية، ومن أهم التوصيات التي خرجت بها الدراسة، ضرورة تبني المدارس استراتيجية إدارة المخاطر للتصدي لأي طارئ مستقبلا، ويضمن استمرارية تعلم الطلبة واستدامته. كما خرجت الدراسة بمقترحات تطبيقية وبحثية.
Information Systems Applications in the Arab Education Sector, 2013
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in which the governance of education has been central... more The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country in which the governance of education has been centralized. The use of computers for administrative applications in education reflects the approach of centralization. As an evolution, most development work is done in a centrally located computer center at the Ministry of Education. School administration in the UAE educational system has experienced a rapid computerization process. The chapter presents the ways in which the Emirates educational system is coping with this issue. A brief overview of the structure of the educational system in UAE will be presented. Subsequently, the chapter will study how Information Technology in Educational Management (ITEM) use has developed over a decade. Recently, there have been various modifications within the educational system in the UAE, specifically towards modernization and decentralization. Nonetheless, a certain maturity has been reached in using ITEM. Therefore, the chapter will attempt to monito...
Journal of Education and e-Learning Research
The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of e-learning provision at Sultan Qaboos Univer... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of e-learning provision at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, from the students’ perspective. The study employed a 48-item survey comprising six domains of e-learning provision. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 1,858 male and female students across all colleges. The results revealed that the quality of the e-learning provision in four of the domains was at an intermediate level. The results also showed statistically significant differences in the third domain (System Effectiveness) in favor of male students, whereas there were no statistically significant differences in the other domains or the overall score. The findings of the study lead to a set of recommendations that may help to contribute to the dissemination and improvement of e-learning culture in general and its quality in particular, as well as furthering its integration in the educational process.
Background: 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environments (3D-VRLEs) have proven effective in stimulat... more Background: 3D-Virtual Reality Learning Environments (3D-VRLEs) have proven effective in stimulating student engagement in teaching and learning processes. However, some principles should be considered before introducing and implementing these learning environments in science education. This paper aims to document the principles that guide the design and development of the 3D-VRLE in science education and to draw the implications for the Omani educational context. Methods: A design-based research (DBR) methodology was conducted to gather data using two instruments: literature review and semi-structured interviews. One specialist developer and two Subject Matter Experts were selected for interviews using purposeful sampling. The in-person interviews consisted of seven questions and a three-hour discussion. The questions were centered on the technological features of 3D-VRLE applications, the instructional design process used to develop these educational applications, and the design p...
Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, 2021
The current status of the 4th industrial revolution has offered some sophisticated technological ... more The current status of the 4th industrial revolution has offered some sophisticated technological tools for higher education institutions. One of these technologies is distance learning based on Internet of Things tools and cloud computing, that make the student the main pillar of learning, through engaging in Flipped Learning Model (FLM). For successful IT integration in higher education, designing a distance-learning training platform is vital. Although research has identified the factors that can directly determine the behavioral intention to use technology, little is known about the effects of these factors on the successful design of a distance-training platform. Therefore, this study examines the effects of these factors in determining the successful design and use of IoT-applications through distance learning platform based on FLM for higher education within the context of Oman technological colleges. This would be implemented by developing a conceptual framework in scope of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and literature review. Data will be collected from employees at these colleges, and analyzed using partial least squares—structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), in addition to the Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA).
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Papers by Prof. Ali Al Musawi Emeritus Professor
سيقدّم هذا الفصل مفهوم التعليم الشامل الذي يستوعب الجميع بغض النظر عن خلفياتهم المتنوعة. وحيث أن المجتمعات العربية تشهد حركة مستمرة في التغير الثقافي والاقتصادي والتقني والذي يتضمن تصاعدا في التنوع الاجتماعي الذي يفرض ضرورة معالجته من خلال المحافظة على التعبيرات الثقافية واتباع استراتيجيات تؤدي إلى الابتكار والمشاركة على نطاق أوسع من قبل جميع الفئات المجتمعية والقدرة على الاستجابة للتأثيرات الجديدة للتكنولوجيا والعولمة. إن برامج إعداد وتأهيل المعلمين في مؤسسات التعليم ينبغي أن تكون مرآة تعكس هذا التغيّر، وأن تعمل على ترسيخ مضامين التنوع. ويناقش الفصل مفهوم التنوع في بناء كفايات المعلمين التي ترغب مؤسسات التعليم إكسابها للمرشح في مجال التنوع؛ وكيفية اشتقاقها وتضمينها في الإطار المفاهيمي لمؤسسات التعليم، بما يسهم في تعزيز مفهوم التنوع داخل مؤسسات التعليم، شارحا أفضل ممارساته على مستوى أعضاء هيئة التدريس والمرشحين والمدارس المتعاونة وتلامذتها.
يتطرق هذا الفصل إلى متطلبات تطبيق التعليم الإلكتروني، والمعوقات والتحديات، التي تحول دون نجاحه، والنظم والبرمجيات المستخدمة لإدارة البرامج والمقررات الإلكترونية، والموارد البشرية والمالية، التي يجب أن تُعطى قدرا كبيرا من الاهتمام عند تبني التعليم الإلكتروني في أية مؤسسة تعليمية. وبالإضافة إلى ذلك، يتطرق الفصل إلى كيفية تقديم الدعم الإلكتروني للطلبة، ومن ثم يعرض نموذجَ سياساتِ وخطط تطبيق المقررات الإلكترونية. كما سيستعرض أخلاقيات التعامل في بيئة التعليم الالكترونية، ويختتم الفصل بسرد مجموعة من مبادئ الممارسة الجيدة لهذا النوع من التعليم.
التعليم والتدريس؛ لذلك كان مفهوم التعليم هذا مترادفا مع نشأة الكيانات المنظمة له
أيا كانت مسمياتها، حيث أرجع بعض الباحثين ظهور فكرة الجامعات كمراكز تعليمية
منذ الحضارات القديمة كحضارات سومر وبابل والفرس والصين واليونان والرومان
والمسلمين قبل أن يتبلور مفهوم الجامعة بصورتها الحالية في عصرنا الحديث ، وقد
دلل البعض منهم بأكاديمية أفلاطون وجامعتي تاكسيلا وبنارس الهنديتين و جامعة
الزيتونة وجامعة القروين وجامعة الأزهر وجامعة قرطبة التي بدأت في مهامها التعليمية
قبل ظهور جامعات مثل بولونيا والسوربون ) باريس سابقا ( وأكسفورد وكامبريدج
وجلاسكو و أشبيلية وبراغ وغيرها.
لقد تطور دور الجامعات عبر العصور بدءا باقتصارها على مهمة التدريس والتلقين
حتى أصبحت تسهم في العديد من مجالات الحياة السياسية والاقتصادية والاجتماعية
والثقافية نظرا لاحتوائها على صفوة المتعلمين من أساتذة وخبراء وباحثين وطلاب
في مختلف العلوم والتخصصات ؛ الأمر الذي أضيف لها مهام البحث العلمي وخدمة
وتطوير المجتمع ونقل المعرفة والتقنية الحديثة إلى جانب مهمتها الأساسية في التعليم
والتدريب.