E-learning success factors: comparing perspectives from academic staff and students

This article advances knowledge on the factors that lead to successful e-learning in universities, through a comparative study of the perspectives of academic staff and students. In particular, it contributes to the limited knowledge bases on the effectiveness of e-learning in Saudi Arabia, and on the differences in perspectives of different groups of stakeholders in e-learning. Based on previous research, a questionnaire was designed and distributed to convenience samples of academic staff and students at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. Respondents were invited to express their opinion regarding the importance of a number of factors to the success of e-learning. Principal Component Analysis was conducted on each dataset, in turn, to assess the loading of items onto factors, and the variance explained. The most important finding from this study is that the perspectives of students and academic staff differ, with there being nine factors for academic staff and seven for students. Categories that are common to both groups are: student characteristics, instructor characteristics, ease of access, and support and training. The order for academics is: student characteristics, ease of access, instructor characteristics, and support and training; and, the order foe students is: instructor characteristics, student characteristics, support and training, and ease of access

Critical success factors for eLearning in Saudi Arabian universities

© 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to offer insights into the development of eLearning systems and the perceptions of key players in the management of eLearning systems in three large universities in Saudi Arabia. It establishes the relative importance of different factors and compares these findings with studies conducted elsewhere in the world. Design/methodology/approach: Desk research was conducted to gather a profile of the eLearning initiatives in the participating universities. Structured interviews were conducted with senior managers with responsibility for implementing and promoting eLearning in their universities. The interview protocol prompted discussion of the importance of the following sets of factors in the success and acceptance of eLearning: student characteristics, instructor characteristics, learning environment, instructional design, and support. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Supported by the Saudi Government, the three universities in this study have been developing their eLearning services. The two most important groups of critical success factors in this process were regarded as those related to student and instructor characteristics. Further analysis within each group of factors suggested that participants regarded instructor knowledge with learning technologies and student knowledge of computer systems, and technical infrastructure as important facilitators of success. Amongst instructional design factors, clarity of learning objectives and content quality were regarded as important. Insights are offered as to the reasons for these selections. Originality/value: This study furthers earlier research on eLearning managers’ views and contributes to understanding of eLearning and its management in the Middle East

National screening for anxiety and depression in Saudi Arabia 2022

BackgroundMental health disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), represent a significant public health concern in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to provide a recent mental health screening prevalence, including anxiety and depression screening in the general public and to explore the associated risk factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, employing a phone interview survey with 6,015 participants, using a quota sampling strategy to ensure equal representation of both sexes and administrative regions. The study assessed the prevalence of MDD and GAD risk and examined demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors associated with these mental health disorders.ResultsThe national prevalence of people at risk of MDD and GAD were found to be 12.7 and 12.4%, respectively. Low diagnosis and treatment rates were observed, with only 1.5 and 0.5% of participants currently diagnosed and treated for depression and anxiety, respectively. Risk factors for MDD and GAD included female sex, lower education and income levels, smoking, and waterpipe use. Protective factors included physical activity, participation in volunteering activities and the practice of daily hobbies in the last 30 days.ConclusionThe relatively high prevalence of MDD and GAD risk and low diagnosis and treatment rates in Saudi Arabia emphasize the need for increased mental health promotion, early detection, and treatment accessibility. The study highlights the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors and fostering protective factors through targeted interventions. Future research should focus on longitudinal associations, potential mediators and moderators, and the development of culturally appropriate and evidence-based interventions to enhance mental health outcomes in the region

Association Between Lipid Profile and Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious disabling consequence of Diabetes Mellitus. They are characterized by the breakdown of skin and underlying tissues in the feet, and are a major cause of lower limb amputations. Various risk factors have been identified for the development of diabetic foot ulcers, including poor glycemic control, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, and impaired wound healing. it is considered that the lipid profile is one of many factors that contribute to the formation and progression of diabetic foot ulcers. To stratify the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), biomarkers are required. The aim of this review is to assess the relationship between the risk of DFU and lipid profile in diabetic patients

The Role of Community Colleges in Achieving Equality in Educational Opportunities

The goal of the study is to identify the community colleges' role in equalizing educational opportunities in higher education. To achieve this goal, the study addresses three questions concerning the following: (1) The characteristics of the community college students; (2) the components of the community college success in helping students achieve their educational goals; and (3) the recommendations that would increase the effectiveness of the community college in equalizing educational opportunities in higher education. The researcher used analytic descriptive approach for analyzing results of related studies. The study results are as follows: 1- There are some social, psychological and academic characteristics proved to have negative effects on the students' college experiences. 2- The major components of the community college success in helping students achieve their educational goals are: commitment to open-door policy; fulfillment of both transfer and vocational functions; provision of developmental courses, comprehensive counseling services, and financial aid; use of effective teaching strategies; and development of data collection procedures. 3- In light of the results of this study, the researcher suggests some recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the recently established community colleges in Saudi Arabia in equalizing educational opportunities in higher education

The Role of Community Colleges in Achieving Equality in Educational Opportunities

The goal of the study is to identify the community colleges' role in equalizing educational opportunities in higher education. To achieve this goal, the study addresses three questions concerning the following: (1) The characteristics of the community college students; (2) the components of the community college success in helping students achieve their educational goals; and (3) the recommendations that would increase the effectiveness of the community college in equalizing educational opportunities in higher education. The researcher used analytic descriptive approach for analyzing results of related studies. The study results are as follows: 1- There are some social, psychological and academic characteristics proved to have negative effects on the students' college experiences. 2- The major components of the community college success in helping students achieve their educational goals are: commitment to open-door policy; fulfillment of both transfer and vocational functions; provision of developmental courses, comprehensive counseling services, and financial aid; use of effective teaching strategies; and development of data collection procedures. 3- In light of the results of this study, the researcher suggests some recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the recently established community colleges in Saudi Arabia in equalizing educational opportunities in higher education

The Effect of Problem-Solving Strategy on Achievement and Retention of Meanings of Literary Genres

This study aimed at identifying the effect of the problem-solving strategy on the achievement and retention of the meanings of literary genres among grade twelve scientific stream students in Jordan. The study tool was an achievement test prepared by the researchers, the study sample consisted of (65) intentionally chosen students who were randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group with (32) students taught according to the problem-solving strategy, and a control group with (33) students taught according to the usual strategy. The results of the study showed that there were statistically significant differences at the level of (α = 0.05) in the experimental group’s achievement and retention at all levels and the total degree of achievement, moreover, the student’s achievement in the post and retention measurements was better at all levels of achievement and the total degree of achievement than the pre-measurement, in favor of the experimental group. The study recommended providing training to language and literature teachers on utilizing efficient teaching strategies