Difficulties Facing Students at Al Quds Open University-Ramallah Branch Studying math Courses from their Perspective

This study aimed at identifying the main difficulties that face students in studying math courses at Al-Quds Open University in Ramallah Branch. The other aim of the research was to investigate students\u27 attitudes and opinions towards enhancing technology into teaching math to overlap the difficulty of the open education system. The research is firstly a qualitative research where studens\u27 views, ideas and perspectives were discussed by the focus groups and observations and secondly, it is a statistical analysis where a quesionnaire was used for the purposes of the research. The statistical measures such as the means, standard deviations, Independent t-test & ANOVA were calculated. The Results of this research show that there are many difficulties facing math students. These difficulties have been classified into three themes, namely: - open education system, textbooks and teaching materials, and administration. Students pointed to the advantage of using e learning as a supporter and considered taped lectures as a solution for many of the mentioned difficulties and recommend using it in all math courses

Educational Loss at Times of Crisis: The Role of Games in Students' Learning in Palestine and Iraq

This study examines the role of educational games in compensating for educational loss and their impact on students' motivation towards learning during crises in Palestine and Iraq. Additionally, the study considers the challenges facing the employment of this strategy and ways to overcome these challenges. By performing separate open semi-structured interviews with a group of 10 educators from university professors, teachers, and educational supervisors, the study used the qualitative descriptive approach which designs multiple case studies. The results showed the prominent role that educational games play in increasing students' motivation towards learning and compensating for educational loss through what they add to the fun and suspense in the learning process and how they shorten time and effort and help students to engage and cooperate in acquiring knowledge, skills, and values. The results also reveal common challenges that face the employment of educational games. These challenges are social, economic, technological, challenges related to school environment, and psychological challenges. The study shows the possibility of overcoming these challenges by providing funding sources, preparing plans to employ educational games, and developing teachers' capabilities to implement them in their teaching practices

Adopting the GHOSHEH Model to Create Innovative Open Educational Resources Based on Rogers' Process for Diffusion of Innovations

The current study aims to adopt a new model for creating innovative OERs. The model, called 'GHOSHEH', supports OERs through multiple learner-centered strategies with authentic assessments, and focuses on practice and reflection. The model is internally validated based on international experts' reviews. Rogers' process for diffusion of innovations is followed in order to introduce and adopt the GHOSHEH model based on a sample of 117 teachers and experts from different states in the Arab world, including Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, and Yemen. Mixed methods research is used: qualitative data are collected from a descriptive case study, and quantitative data are collected from the responses of the participants to a questionnaire about adopting the GHOSHEH model. Results reveal that the model involves four main processes: The first is analysis of content and context. The second is implementing sequenced activities that promote reflection, problem solving, and collaboration. The third is a formative assessment followed by providing continuous feedback. The fourth is peer sharing of the created OERs. Moreover, results show that teachers and experts from different states in the Arab world overwhelmingly adopted the model, and there is evidence of the model's advantages, simplicity, compatibility, trialability, and observability

Using open education practices across the Mediterranean for intercultural curriculum development in higher education

This multinational authored article presents the findings and recommendations of a three-year, European-funded project ‘OpenMed: Opening up education in South Mediterranean countries’, which brought together five higher education partners from Europe and nine from the South Mediterranean region. This was the first cross-European initiative to promote the adoption of Open Educational Practices (OEP) within higher education involving educational institutions in each of the countries. A three-phase project design included gathering and analyzing case studies of OEPs globally, and, in particular, in the South Mediterranean; the organization of regional forums to encourage priorities for change; and the multi-national design and pilot implementation of a ‘training of trainers’ course for academic capacity building in OEPs as part of curricula reform. We will discuss how the cultural approaches used among experts and project partners with different national, linguistic, and educational backgrounds have instigated change in policy and practice at a personal, institutional, and national level. © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Reflection on MOOC Design in Palestine

This paper will share Discover Palestine, an interdisciplinary Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) and the first MOOC to be created in Palestine, by the E-Learning Centre, Faculty from the Department of Geography, and Department of Tourism and Archaeology from An-Najah National University in Palestine. The paper traces the process of development of the Discover Palestine MOOC from its early inception as a cross institutional online course, to its current delivery and engagement with a global and diverse group of learners. Using a descriptive case study design and thematic analysis, the reflective experiences of four course team members involved as facilitators/designers in the design and delivery of the MOOC are shared. Three key themes, namely, “Informing pedagogies including delivery methods,” “A commitment to a national cause,” and “Teacher presence,” are presented and contextualized with data evidence. The findings share not only the hurdles the Discover Palestine team had to navigate during the MOOC development, but more importantly, how academic collaborations promoting open education practices offer powerful tools for the reciprocal exchange of knowledge, not least in shifting mindsets, and offering opportunities for shared fields of understanding to be realized in revealing creative, cultural practices, as well as lost histories

Developing Teaching Practice in Computational Thinking in Palestine

Sporadic efforts have been made to introduce computational thinking methods into K-12 education in Palestine, but these have been held back by the challenging educational environment. However, a recent in-service training initiative, funded and organized by the Ministry or Education of Palestine, constitutes a significant effort to embed computational thinking in K-12 practice. The middle school teachers who participated in the training course were invited to participate in the present study, and 38 did so. A qualitative approach involving both interviews with teachers and classroom observations was used in data collection. All the teachers agreed to be observed in their classrooms, while 20 of the 38 also agreed to participate in the interviews. The findings showed that teachers of a range of topics, including social sciences and languages, employed computational thinking skills in teaching their students, but they were confronted by a number of challenges, including technical infrastructure and support, and a lack of time to prepare CT classes and space in the curriculum to deliver them. The results indicate that the most appropriate action to support teachers' delivery of CT would be to provide peer exchanges and expert coaching in the integration of CT in the curriculum

A Comprehensive Framework for Comparing Textbooks: Insights from the Literature and Experts

Textbooks are essential components in the learning process. They assist in achieving educational learning outcomes and developing social and cultural values. However, limited studies provide comprehensive frameworks for comparing textbooks. Most have focused on a specific textbook perspective within a particular discipline. Therefore, this study used a triangulation method to develop a comprehensive framework for textbook comparison. Through a systematic literature review and a two-round Fuzzy Delphi method with 155 textbook experts, a textbook comparison framework with four indicators (structure, content, expectations, and language) was developed. Additionally, some of the developed framework indicators and sub-indicators could be relevant for comparing textbooks in a particular discipline. For example, the page count sub-indicator was proven to be useful for comparing humanities and social science textbooks but not natural science textbooks. The findings of this study could facilitate the process of comparing textbooks, hence promoting the understanding of knowledge design and acquisition in different contexts, such as when comparing textbooks from different countries

Critical Analysis of the Education System after the Establishment of the Palestinian Authority

The findings of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) (2003&2007) showed that Palestinian children achievement achievement in Science and Math is very low and this was also insured by the results of national tests. This study aimed at diagnosising the reality of Palestinian education for the period between1994-2009, and identifying the challenges facing the quality of education and discusses recommendations to improve it. The methodology of this research depends on qualitative approach and data were collected through document content analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and classroom observations. It was found that there is a consensus that there is deterioration in the quality of education in Palestine, and the issue of education should be a general societal issue shared by all Palestinian actors through a national debate