Utilization of Avatar-based Technology in The Area of Sign language... A Review

Information and communication technology (ICT) has progressed rapidly in recent years, and it is becoming necessary for everybody including deafpeople. This paper gives an overview of using a technology called Avatar-based technology in the area of sign language, which is the normal language of the deafworldwide, although it is different from country to another. This paper covers the basic concepts related to the signing avatar and the efforts for applying it indifferent sign language worldwide, especially Arabic Sign Language (ArSL)

The Design and Evaluation of an Interactive Social Engineering Training Programme

Social engineering is a major issue affecting organisational security. Educating employees on how to avoid social engineering attacks is important because social engineering tries to penetrate an organisation by using employees to grant authorized access to sensitive information. While there are a number of theoretical studies about social engineering, a few practical studies have moved towards educating and training employees on how to spot such attacks. In this research, we emphasise the importance of educating employees to make them more resilient to these kinds of attacks. We developed an educational video encapsulated within a Social Engineering Training Programme. This is essentially an interactive training video during which the learner interacts with three different scenarios; educational content, a knowledge-check, and a web page containing the latest news about current social engineering attacks. The training programme was evaluated in a Saudi trading company with 24 employees. The evaluation showed that the programme delivered a positive impact in terms of awareness, as tested by a post-training qui

Considering and Supporting the Implementation of Universal Design for Learning Among Teachers of Students Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the variables associated with the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and identify the barriers that could prevent the implementation of UDL. This study included the initial perceptions of teachers of students who are deaf and hard of hearing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study discussed implications for integration of UDL in day-to-day practices as well as in the country's education policy. Therefore, this study was divided into two major stages to obtain a better understanding of UDL through teachers’ practice. The first stage was to investigate and conduct a broad assessment of the current implementation level of the three UDL principles (engagement, representation, and action and expression) and the barriers to implementing UDL among teachers in Saudi schools. The total participants in this stage were 269 teachers. The second stage was a follow-up procedure after assessing the teachers’ needs through a specially designed intervention that provided training sessions for 67 teachers. The results of the intervention indicated significant differences among teachers before and after taking the training sessions associated with their understanding and level of concern. Teachers have indicated interest in knowing more about UDL and adopting it into their practices; they reported that UDL has benefits that will enhance their performance for supporting student learning

The Effectiveness of Computerized Instructional Packages on Concept Acquisition and Improving Academic Achievement among Female Deaf Students in KSA

The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of computerized instructional packages on concept acquisition and improving academic achievement among deaf students in Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of (16) third-grade female deaf students in prep stage for the first semester of the academic year 2013/2014, randomly selected from schools in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and distributed evenly to two groups: control group (n = 8) and experimental group (n = 8). Quasi-experimental method used to achieve the objective of the study. Computerized instructional packages, test of concept acquisition and academic achievement test were utilized to collect data. The results showed statistically significant differences between the performances’ mean of the control group and experimental group in the concept acquisition posttest and academic achievement posttest and differences were in favor of the experimental group. The study recommended the need to provide computerized instructional packages in all institutes and programs for people with special needs, especially the deaf, and with concern for the provision of modern methods that take into account the easiness and performance effectiveness. The study also recommended the need to train teachers of students with special needs, specifically the deaf, on the use of computerized instructional packages, in addition to the need for an education technology specialist for the deaf in each institute. Keywords: computerized instructional packages, concept acquisition, academic achievement, female deaf students

Digital Teaching Competencies Evaluation of Teachers in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Given the pivotal role of teachers in facilitating learning, it is necessary that they be equipped with digital competencies to be able to prepare the new generations to work and live in the digital age efficiently. There is a need to assess Digital Teaching Competencies and investigate the training needed in this area. The purpose of this review was to identify the Digital Teaching Competencies of Saudi teachers. Twelve reviewed studies show significant heterogeneity in the theoretical frameworks and tools used. Teachers indicate that they have basic digital skills. However, there has been a lack of a theoretical framework guiding the development of digital competencies in Saudi Arabia which could be a concern in the educational system. Keywords: Digital Competencies, Saudi Arabia, Teachers. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-21-01 Publication date:June 30th 202

YouTube for Assisting Autonomous Deaf English Learners in Mastering EFL

Teaching English to students with special needs has been a concern in Indonesia. However, there were still some limitations in the practice of teaching and learning in class. Thus, this research tried to portray the use of YouTube to improve the quality of English learning outside the classroom. This research attempted to depict YouTube's use to assist autonomous deaf learners in mastering English as a foreign language. This research utilized case study research and thematic data analyses. The subject of the research was one autonomous deaf English learner. The data collecting technique was a written interview through an online chat application. The first result of the research pointed out that there were four learning manners of the autonomous deaf learner in optimizing the English learning process through YouTube, namely using the caption feature, backward feature, comment section, and google translate to learn more about English. The second result revealed that the autonomous deaf English learner obtained three insights from the learning process through YouTube: grammar knowledge, vocabulary, and general knowledge, particularly about knitting. Finally, it may be concluded that the YouTube features that served captions, backward buttons, and comment sections became the paramount factors for supporting the learning autonomy of the deaf learner in mastering English as a foreign language

Redefining Literacy: The Realities of Digital Literacy for Students with Disabilities in K-12

Technology has shaped the definition of literacy from the traditional meaning of having the ability to read and write to being a social practice that enables individuals to learn and interact with the world. With this notion of literacy, technology has become a tool to motivate and engage all learners through broad practices and platforms that could effectively strengthen a student’s learning experience. The shifting from printed content to digital form is a transfer point of the traditional understanding of literacy to a new and modern meaning. This has led to a new term known as digital literacy, whereby perceiving information, gaining knowledge, and expressing understanding for the purposes of learning are delivered through a digital format. Therefore, this study has comprehensively reviewed implementing technology into digital learning for K–12 students with disabilities. Moreover, the study has investigated special and general education teachers (n = 682) through open-ended questions to have a better understanding of the integration of learning and digital literacy. The results of the study have been interpreted to enhance the practice and research of the future of technology through digital literacy. Keywords: Digital literacy, students with disabilities, K-12, special education, general education, technolog

Utilization of Multimedia Services in Libraries for Students with Disabilities

This study has two primary objectives: first, to determine whether or not students with visual impairments make use of multimedia services, and second, to compile a list of the challenges that handicapped face while attempting to use such services. This research was a descriptive qualitative field study that used a qualitative technique of qualitative description. In addition to interviews and written documentation, observation was another method that was used while compiling this data. The study is significant as it shows the availability of media services in schools’ libraries for students with disabilities. According to the findings of this investigation, pupils seem to make effective use of the multimedia services provided by the library for patrons with disabilities. The library offers a variety of services and amenities. Students use of technology, such as laptops and projectors, to get access to material via both visual and audible channels might be seen as evidence that they have achieved this goal. The inadequacy of the service infrastructure and the antiquated nature of the technology makes it difficult to make use of the benefits offered by multimedia services. In addition, there is a severe lack of librarians with experience working with multimedia technology in the worlds educational institutions at the present moment

Hearing impairment from the Islamic perspective: a review

Introduction: This discussion paper aims to synthesise available literature on hearing sciences from Islamic perspective and to relate this to the current hearing care practices. The paper focuses on several main scopes: i) the importance of sense of hearing from Islamic and scientific perspectives ii) impacts of hearing impairment iii) limitations in understanding and practicing Islamic teaching due to hearing impairment, iv) Islamic responsibility towards people with hearing impairment, v) current available methods to facilitate Islamic practices among hearing impaired people, and vi) incorporating Islamization in hearing care practice. Design: Narrative review and synthesis Method: Related publications and references were identified through several ways: i) by structured searches in PubMed, Google scholar, Web of Knowledge and Science Direct using the combinations of ‘Islam’, ‘hearing impairment’, ‘hearing loss’, ‘hearing’, ‘social’, learning’, ‘memory’, ‘disability’, ‘Islamic responsibility’, and ‘learning for deaf’ as key words, ii) by inspecting the reference lists of relevant articles, and iii) by identification of relevant references from Quran and Hadith by authors who have background in Quranic studies. Results: The number of publications within the audiology field, which address the aforementioned scopes, is rather limited. Additionally, a review and synthesis of literature from other related fields such as medical, health, and education, with references from Quran and Hadith, were also carried out to facilitate the discussion of the above mentioned scopes. Conclusion: This paper concludes that there is an emerging trend for the studies of hearing and Islam in the literature. Facilitating hearing impaired people in understanding and practicing Islam becomes a shared obligation for parents, society, and the patients themselves. This discussion also identifies that there is a need for more contributions from Muslim scholars in integrating and implementing the Islamic principles in current hearing care practices