Prof. Ammar Safar | Kuwait University (original) (raw)

Papers by Prof. Ammar Safar

Research paper thumbnail of Educational Guide for Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Applications: A Descriptive and Analytical Study

International Journal of Contemporary Humanities and Educational Science, 2024

This exploratory research study aimed to identify the most prominent generative artificial intell... more This exploratory research study aimed to identify the most prominent generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) software/applications that can be used in the educational system by teachers, educators, and learners as tools that can help enhance the processes of teaching and learning. It adopted a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical research approach as the scientific research methodology relied upon to achieve its objectives. The study used a data collection tool consisting of an analysis card composed of five main sections: defining the tool, its primary functions, its potential advantages, its potential disadvantages, and a summary (overview). The study included a purposive stratified sample of 120 GenAI applications that were carefully selected based on established scientific criteria, following a comprehensive review of the literature and a careful study of the recommendations and proposals of international educational scientific conferences, seminars, and workshops specializing in the field of educational/instructional technology. The study was implemented during the academic year 2023/2024 amidst the widespread dissemination of GenAI applications in all aspects of life, including the education sector. The results of the study led to the preparation of a comprehensive educational guide/handbook that introduces the most prominent GenAI software/applications that can be used in the educational system. The smart applications in this guide were divided into five main categories: (1) Chatbot tools (9 applications) that allow for automated communication and interaction with users through text conversations. (2) Scientific research, writing, and document interaction tools (38 programs) that help researchers and writers accomplish their tasks efficiently, such as searching for information and data, writing content, and managing documents. (3) Media creation tools (46 tools) that enable users to create distinctive media content, such as images, videos, and audio and musical materials. (4) Design, presentation, and visual communication tools (14 applications) that help in designing presentations, creating designs and graphics, and improving visual communication. (5) Teaching and learning tools (13 software) that provide innovative solutions to enhance teaching and learning, such as interactive educational applications, assessment tools, electronic learning platforms, and tools to assist in taking notes, lesson planning, suggesting activities and resources, and creating attractive and effective materials and presentations. These categories represent a comprehensive classification of GenAI applications, making it easier for the reader to find the tools that suit their needs. The study concluded with some recommendations, the most important of which are: (1) Effectively disseminating the GenAI tools guide/manual to all stakeholders in the education sector. (2) Implementing intensive and diverse training programs to enhance the capabilities of those concerned with education in GenAI tools. (3) Producing comprehensive awareness materials about AI and GenAI software and disseminating them through multiple channels. (4) Developing a comprehensive interactive digital educational guide/handbook that addresses the principles, ethics, policies, and procedures related to AI and its uses in teaching and learning environments. (5) Including a course on AI in educational curricula and teacher training programs. (6) Enhancing coordination, cooperation, and partnership between educational institutions and AI specialists to raise awareness about this field and intensify guidance and support programs on the use of GenAI tools in the educational process.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers’ Cybersecurity Awareness Level in General Education Schools in the State of Kuwait From Their Perspective

Journal of Faculty of Education - Benha University, 2024

The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of teachers in the general education... more The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of teachers in the general education schools in the State of Kuwait. Additionally, it sought to explore the impact of some independent variables such as gender, specialization, qualification, ICT international certificate, cybersecurity training courses, ICT proficiency, and years of professional experience on their perceptions and awareness level. The study employed a descriptive analytical quantitative research methodology as its scientific research approach, which was suitable for achieving its research objectives. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, consisting of 47 items after it was validated and tested for reliability, distributed electronically to a purposive stratified sample of 1,664 teachers during the first and second semesters of 2023/2024 school year. The study revealed that the awareness level of teachers regarding cybersecurity was generally categorized as “very high” (M = 4.21, SD = 0.58, RII = 0.84). The results indicated that their awareness level was “very high” for the majority of the scale items (40 statements), while the remaining scale items (7 statements) also achieved a “high” level. Furthermore, the findings showed no statistically significant differences at the 0.05 significance level (α ≤ 0.05) among the means of the inservice teachers’ responses attributed to the variables of gender (male, female), specialization (literary, scientific), ICT international certificate (have, does not have), participation in cybersecurity training courses (attended, did not attend), and years of professional experience (from 0 to less than 10 years, from 10 to less than 20 years, 20 years and above), within the entire instrument/scale. As for the variables of qualification (bachelor, master/doctorate) and ICT proficiency (beginner, intermediate/competent, advanced/proficient), the results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the means responses of participants in favor of teachers who have bachelor degrees and higher ICT proficiency. The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of AI and its Applications in Teaching and Learning Among Pre-service Teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University

Journal of Education - Sohag University, 2024

The study aimed to measure the artificial intelligence (AI) awareness level of pre-service teache... more The study aimed to measure the artificial intelligence (AI) awareness level of pre-service teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University. Additionally, it sought to explore the impact of some independent variables such as gender/sex, specialization, ICT certification, AI training courses, and ICT proficiency (self-efficacy level) on their perceptions and awareness level. The study employed a descriptive analytical quantitative research methodology as its scientific research approach, which was suitable for achieving its research objectives. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, consisting of 36 items after it was validated and tested for reliability, distributed electronically to a purposive stratified sample of 555 pre-service teachers during the first (fall), second (winter/spring), and third (summer) semesters of 2023/2024 academic year. The study revealed that the awareness level of pre-service teachers at the College of Education, Kuwait University, regarding AI was generally categorized as “high” (M = 3.66, SD = 0.68, RII = 0.73). The results revealed that their awareness level was “high” for the majority of the scale items (35 statements), except for statement no. 19, which obtained a “very high” rating. Furthermore, the findings showed no statistically significant differences at the significance level 0.05 (α ≤ 0.05) among the means of the pre-service teachers’ responses attributed to the variables of specialization (literary, scientific), and ICT certification (holding an international ICT certificate, with no international ICT certificate), within the entire instrument/scale. As for the variables of gender (male, female), participation in AI training courses (attended, did not attend), and ICT proficiency (beginner, intermediate/competent, advanced/proficient), the results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the means of participants’ responses, in the overall tool/scale, in favor of the following: the gender/sex variable favored males, the participation in AI training courses variable favored pre-service teachers who attended previous training courses in AI, and the ICT proficiency level variable showed differences in only one pair, namely (beginner, intermediate/competent), in favor of participants with higher ICT proficiency levels (intermediate/competent). The study concluded with some recommendations, including: (1) Disseminating awareness of the AI culture and promoting optimal utilization of its smart technologies and applications in the field of education among teachers; (2) Providing continuous training and awareness for teachers regarding AI technologies and applications, and how to effectively integrate and employ them in teaching and learning; (3) Preparing an interactive digital educational guide on the applications of AI in teaching and learning; (4) Incorporating the subject of AI, along with its various topics, into educational curricula in schools and universities, as well as integrating it into professional academic programs for teacher preparation; and (5) Enhancing coordination, partnership, and collaboration -locally, regionally, and internationally - among educational institutions, authorities, and organizations specialized in AI, this aims to promote and increase awareness in the field of AI and leverage the experiences and expertise of others in this vital domain.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers’ Evaluation of the Distance Teaching and Learning System in General Education Schools in the State of Kuwait During the Pandemic

International Journal of Contemporary Humanities and Educational Science, 2024

The study aimed to measure the teachers’ evaluation towards the experience of using the distance/... more The study aimed to measure the teachers’ evaluation towards the experience of using the distance/remote teaching and learning system (electronic, web-based, mobile, and virtual) in general education schools in the State of Kuwait during the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic—this included their degree of acceptance, agreement, and satisfaction with it. In addition to revealing the impact of some independent variables (i.e., gender, school type, specialization, ICT qualification, nationality, years of professional experience, and educational stage on the level of the teachers’ overall evaluation (i.e., their acceptance, agreement, and satisfaction) of this new system. This study utilized the quantitative, descriptive, survey, analytical, and evaluative research design/methodology to achieve its research objectives. Data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed to a stratified sample of 2,529 male and female teachers. Participants were randomly selected electronically during the first and second semesters of 2021/2022 academic year. The findings of the study revealed that the overall evaluation degree of the teachers in Kuwait’s general education schools towards distance/remote education practice during the pandemic was generally “high” (M = 3.49, SD = 0.48, RII = 0.70). Teachers’ responses indicated that their acceptance, agreement, and general satisfaction with the new alternative emergency educational system (distance/remote teaching and learning) ranged from “moderate to very high” across all of the study’s domains. The results also showed that statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 (α ≤ 0.01) were found among the means of the teachers’ responses. These differences were attributed to several variables, such as: gender (favoring females), school type (favoring private general education schools), ICT qualification (favoring those without international ICT certifications), nationality (favoring Kuwaiti citizens), years of professional experience (favoring those with less than 10 years), and educational stage (favoring elementary and secondary stages). However, specialization variable did not show statistically significant differences in participants’ responses. The study concluded with several recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Pre-service Female Teachers’ Cybersecurity Awareness Level in the College of Education at Kuwait University

Journal of Education - Sohag University, 2024

The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of pre-service female teachers in th... more The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of pre-service female teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University. Additionally, it sought to explore the impact of some independent variables such as specialization, cybersecurity training courses, and ICT proficiency on their perceptions and awareness level. The study employed a descriptive methodology as its scientific research approach, which was suitable for achieving its research objectives. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, consisting of 47 items after it was validated and tested for reliability, distributed electronically to a purposive stratified sample of 464 pre-service female teachers during the first and second semesters of 2022/2023 academic year. The study revealed that the awareness level of pre-service female teachers at the College of Education, Kuwait University, regarding cybersecurity was generally categorized as “very high” (M = 4.26, SD = 0.50, RII = 0.85). The results indicated that their awareness level was “very high” for the majority of the scale items (39 statements), while the remaining scale items (8 statements) also achieved a “high” level. Furthermore, the findings showed no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≤ 0.05) among the means of the pre-service female teachers’ responses attributed to the variables of specialization (literary, scientific), and ICT proficiency (beginner, intermediate/competent, advanced/proficient), within the entire instrument/scale. As for the variable of participation in cybersecurity courses (attended, did not attend), the results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the means responses of participants in favor of pre-service female teachers who had attended prior cybersecurity courses. The study concluded with some recommendations, including: (1) The necessity of providing continuous training and awareness for teachers about cybersecurity, its threats, and dangers; (2) Providing an interactive digital educational cybersecurity guide; (3) Incorporating cybersecurity topics into various educational curricula in schools and universities; and (4) Enhancing coordination, collaboration, and partnerships between educational institutions and cybersecurity authorities and organizations to promote and increase awareness in the field of cybersecurity.

Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait University Academic Staff’s Perceptions Towards the Use of Distance Teaching and Learning System During the Coronavirus Pandemic Crisis

Journal of Arab Children, 2023

The study aimed to measure the perspectives of members of the academic staff at Kuwait University... more The study aimed to measure the perspectives of members of the academic staff at Kuwait University (KU) towards the experience/practice of using distance teaching and learning system (electronic, web-based, mobile, and virtual) during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic crisis—their degree of acceptance and approval with the new alternative teaching and learning strategy. In addition to revealing the effect of some independent variables (i.e., gender, type of college, type of specialization/major, prior experience in using electronic teaching and learning management platforms, and years of processional experience) on the level of their acceptance, approval, and satisfaction with this distance/remote education system. This study adopted the quantitative, descriptive, survey, analytical, and evaluative research design as the research methodology entrusted with the completion of its investigative research objectives. The online questionnaire was used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 260 members of KU’s academic staff participated electronically in this research study during the fall, spring/winter, and summer semesters of 2021-2022 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of acceptance/agreement and satisfaction among the academic staff members at KU towards distance/remote education practice was generally "high" (M = 3.74, SD = 0.41, RII = 0.75). Where the estimates of the academic staff indicated that the degree of their acceptance/approval and satisfaction with the new alternative emergency educational system (distance/remote teaching and learning) was "high-very high" in all of the study’s domains/indicators. The findings of the study also revealed that there were statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.05 (α ≤ 0.05) between the responses of KU academic staff members with regard to the degree of their acceptance/approval and satisfaction with the practice of distance education due to the variables of gender (in favor of the female group), the type of specialization/major (in favor of the category of humanity and social sciences specializations), prior experience in using electronic teaching and learning management platforms (for the benefit of those with previous experience), and years of professional experience (for the category of less than 10 years). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges to Distance Teaching and Learning in the State of Kuwait’s Public Higher Education Institutions During the Coronavirus Pandemic Era from the Viewpoint of Students: A Mixed Methods Study

International Journal of E-Learning, 2023

The study aimed to highlight and identify the challenges and obstacles encountered by Kuwait publ... more The study aimed to highlight and identify the challenges and obstacles encountered by Kuwait public higher education institutions students throughout the practice of implementing distance/remote education (electronic, Internet/web-based, mobile, and virtual teaching and learning) system during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from their point of view. This descriptive, analytical, and evaluative study adopted the mixed methods research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies). The online questionnaire, informal semi-structured interviews, and focus groups discussions were used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 5,000 students from Kuwait public higher education colleges and institutes participated electronically in this research study - using information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as email, social networking/media apps, and video conferencing software platforms - during the fall, spring, and summer semesters of 2021/2022 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of satisfaction among the students at Kuwait public higher education institutions towards distance/remote teaching and learning practice was generally "high". This gives a positive impression towards moving forward to continue employing and adapting it as an effective and important teaching and learning tool along with the traditional teaching and learning method, and/or when the conventional teaching and learning strategy is not available/possible due to unusual/exceptional natural, political, and health conditions related to crises, disasters, epidemics, and so on. However, it is imperative for the administrators of public higher education institutions in Kuwait to pay close attention and take care to overcome the many challenges, obstacles, problems, and difficulties that faced their students during this exceptional/unusual experience, which were divulged by the outcomes of the current research study, and strive to find proper and effective solutions to them to increase the success of this educational experience and reap the desired educational benefits. Among the most prominent of these challenges and obstacles revealed by the results are the following: (1) the technical problems related to the Internet, communication networks, software, and hardware beyond the control of the teacher and the student during lectures and/or exams (N = 3,072, % = 61.4), (2) the short period of time granted to students to take the exams, despite the large number of questions and their difficulty, to avoid cheating (N = 1,778, % = 35.6), (3) the lack of sympathy/concern, consideration, appreciation, and understanding for students’ technical problems, their circumstances, and conditions, and holding them accountable for that by punishing/penalizing them, and sometimes treating them with abuse, cruelty, and rudeness (N = 1,447, % = 28.9), (4) the large number and difficulty of assignments or duties/tasks (such as: projects, reports, research studies, presentations, activities, etc.) that the student is assigned to complete and deliver them in a short period (N = 1,411, % = 28.2), (5) increasing the difficulty of the tests by placing awkward questions; On the pretext of avoiding cheating (N = 1,205, % = 24.1), (6) the study pressure (N = 1,199, % = 24.0), (7) the failure to use modern and diverse teaching and learning methods and strategies that are suitable for distance/remote education (electronic, Internet/web-based, mobile, and virtual teaching and learning); Which caused difficulty in perceiving, understanding and assimilation among students (N = 1,175, % = 23.5), and (8) the lack of trust and good faith in the students which causes challenging their credibility and being suspicion that they are cheating a lot (N = 974, % = 19.5). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Students’ Satisfaction of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in the State of Kuwait Towards the Use of Distance Teaching and Learning System During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Case Study

Faculty of Education Journal - Menoufia University, 2023

The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of the Public Authority for Applied Educ... more The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) students towards the implementation of distance teaching and learning system during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from their point of view. In addition to revealing the effect of some independent variables (i.e., gender, type of college/institute, and type of specialization/major) on the level of their satisfaction with this exceptional experience. It also intended to highlight and identify the obstacles and challenges encountered by PAAET students throughout the practice of distance education. This descriptive, analytical, and evaluative study adopted the mixed methods research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies). The online questionnaire, informal semi-structured interviews, and focus groups discussions were used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 2,365 students from PAAET colleges and institutes participated electronically in this research study - using information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as email, social networking/media apps, and video conferencing platforms - during the fall and spring semesters of 2021/2022 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of satisfaction among the students at PAAET towards distance teaching and learning practice was generally "high" (M = 3.44, SD = 1.03, RII = 0.69). Where the estimates of the students indicated that the degree of their satisfaction with the employment of distance education was "high" in all of the study’s indicators. The findings of the study also revealed that there were statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 between the responses of PAAET students with regard to the degree of their satisfaction with the practice of distance education due to the variables of gender (in favor of the male group), the type of college/institute (in favor of scientific colleges and institutes), and the type of specialization (in favor of the category of scientific specializations/majors). As for the difficulties, challenges, and problems that PAAET students faced during this experiment, they were numerous as indicated by the results, the most prominent of which are the following: (1) the technical problems related to the Internet, communication networks, software, and hardware (N = 1,320, % = 55.8), (2) the short time given to students to take the tests (N = 760, % = 32.1), (3) the study pressure (N = 720, % = 30.4), (4) the lack of trust and good faith of some faculty members and the academic support staff in the students which causes challenging their credibility and being suspicion that they are cheating a lot (N = 650, % = 27.5), and (5) increased test difficulty (N = 630, % = 26.6). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Level of Acceptance of Preservice Teachers at Kuwait University for Infographics Applications in Light of the Information and Communication Technology Acceptance Model "ICTAM"

Information Sciences Letters, 2022

This study aimed to determine the level of acceptance of infographics apps among preservice teach... more This study aimed to determine the level of acceptance of infographics apps among preservice teachers at Kuwait University and examine the effect of several independent variables on the level of acceptance. It used exploratory quasiexperimental descriptive analysis based primarily on a quantitative approach and specifically adopted the information and communication technology acceptance model (ICTAM). A stratified sample of 162 preservice female teachers from the College of Education at Kuwait University participated in this study. The participants were introduced to and trained on various infographics apps. At the end of the semester, an anonymous questionnaire was administered through an online survey tool, and the preservice teachers were asked to voluntarily participate and complete the questionnaire. A set of descriptive statistics (i.e., frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential comparisons tests (i.e., independent-samples t-tests, one-way analyses of variance "ANOVAs", Dunnett's C multiple comparisons tests, and Scheffe's multiple comparisons tests) were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the level of acceptance among preservice teachers regarding the use of infographics apps was "high" (M = 3.85, SD = 0.67). Although the results uncovered a few significant differences with regard to some independent variables (i.e., year of study, ICT daily usage, and GPA), the level of overall acceptance of the infographics apps was very high.

Research paper thumbnail of The Extent to which Science Laboratory Technicians in Public Education Schools in the State of Kuwait Possess Professional Competencies from the Viewpoint of Science Laboratory Supervisors and Technicians

Faculty of Education Journal - Menoufia University, 2022

The research study sought to find out the extent to which science laboratory technicians in the t... more The research study sought to find out the extent to which science laboratory technicians in the three educational stages in public education schools in the State of Kuwait possess professional competencies and attempt to uncover the reality of those competencies from the viewpoint of the supervisors and technicians of science laboratories. The study adopted the quantitative, descriptive, analytical, and evaluation survey method to achieve its objectives. As for the study, the sample consisted of 474 participants from the supervisors and technicians of science laboratories in public education sector schools (government and private) in the State of Kuwait. A study tool (questionnaire) was distributed to them in the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021 for data collection, and then descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to process and analyze the data and extract the results of the study. The researchers relied on the descriptive approach in reviewing books, literature, and studies related to in-service training and applying a list of professional competencies to see the extent of their availability among laboratory technicians. The results of the study showed that the extent of possession of science laboratory technicians in public education schools in the State of Kuwait included the following competencies: administrative, security and safety, dealing with learners, dealing with laboratory materials and equipment, dealing with teachers, and using and employing computers. The degree to which they possess these professional competencies is "very high significant". The researchers recommend using the list of professional competencies of science laboratory technicians in public education schools in the State of Kuwait and training laboratory technicians to deal with learners and teachers to facilitate their performance of work. And the necessity of involving laboratory technicians in building training programs through knowing their desires in the educational and learning environment, with the importance of their contribution to education and learning content, to encourage laboratory technicians to learn; To ensure that they continue to possess the professional competencies positively, with efficiency, effectiveness and high quality.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Students’ Satisfaction Towards Distance Teaching and Learning Practice During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Case Study of Kuwait University

Journal of Education - Sohag University, 2022

The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of Kuwait University (KU) students towar... more The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of Kuwait University (KU) students towards the practice of distance teaching and learning during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from their point of view. In addition to revealing the effect of some independent variables (i.e., gender, type of specialization, and the university level) on the level of their satisfaction with this exceptional experience. It also intended to highlight and identify the obstacles and challenges encountered by KU students throughout the practice of distance education. This descriptive, analytical, and evaluative study adopted the mixed methods research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies). The online questionnaire, informal semi-structured interviews, and focus groups discussions were used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 2,035 university students from KU participated electronically in this research study - using information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as email, social networking/media apps, and video conferencing platforms - during the first semester of 2020/2021 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of satisfaction among the students at KU towards distance teaching and learning practice was generally "medium/average" (M = 2.76, SD = 1.02, RII = 0.55). Where the estimates of the students indicated that the degree of their satisfaction with the practice of distance education is "medium/average" in all of the study’s indicators. The findings of the study also revealed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 between the responses of KU students with regard to the degree of their satisfaction with the practice of distance education due to the variables of gender (in favor of the male group), the type of specialization (in favor of the category of humanity specializations), and the university level (for the category of graduate students). As for the difficulties, challenges, and problems that students faced during this experiment, they were numerous as indicated by the results, the most prominent of which are the following: (1) technical problems related to the Internet, communication networks, software, and hardware (N = 1,252, % = 61.5), (2) lack of sympathy/concern, consideration, appreciation, and understanding for students’ technical problems, conditions, circumstances, and hold them accountabile for that by punishing/penalizing them (N = 545, % = 26.8), (3) the large amount of and difficult assignments or duties/tasks that the student is entrusted with completing and delivering in a short period (N = 421, % = 20.7), (4) not using the modern teaching and learning methods and strategies that deem appropriate for distance education, which caused difficulty in perception, understanding, and comprehension among students (N = 417, % = 20.5), (5) the short time given to students to take the tests (N = 414, % = 20.3), and (6) increased test difficulty (N = 284, % = 14.0). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Availability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competencies among Teachers in General Education Schools in the State of Kuwait in Light of Some Variables

Arab Research in the Fields of Specific Education, 2021

This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which teachers in general education... more This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which teachers in general education schools in the State of Kuwait possess information and communication technology (ICT) competencies from their point of view, in addition to revealing the impact of some independent variables (i.e., gender, specialization, and years of professional experience) on the acquisition level. The study adopted the analytical, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative research methodology, and used the questionnaire as a tool to collect data. A stratified random sample of 1,299 teachers participated electronically in this research study during the first semester of 2020/2021 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of availability of information and communication technology competencies among the teachers in general education schools in the State of Kuwait was generally "medium/average" (M = 2.45, SD = 0.84, RII = 0.49). Where the estimates of the teachers indicated that the extent to which they possess ICT competencies is "medium/average" in all of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics. The findings of the study also revealed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 among the averages of teachers’ responses regarding the degree to which they possess ICT competencies due to the variables of gender (in favor of the female category), specialization (in favor of the category of scientific specializations), and years of professional experience (in favor of the category with the lowest years of experience; less than 10 years), in all of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics separately, and in the tool as a whole. The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Effectiveness of a Training Environment Based on Mobile Learning on Developing the Skills of Producing E-tests among Intermediate School Teachers in Kuwait

Journal of Scientific Research in Education - Ain Shams University, 2021

The research aimed to verify the effectiveness of a training environment based on mobile learning... more The research aimed to verify the effectiveness of a training environment based on mobile learning on developing the skills of producing e-tests among intermediate school teachers in Kuwait. The sample of the research consisted of (40) intermediate school teachers, who were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental group consisted of (20) teachers using a training environment based on mobile learning, and the control group consisted of (20) teachers using traditional training. The research included two tools: an achievement test, and final product criteria checklist; and to achieve this goal the integration of the descriptive analytical approach and the experimental approach has been used. The results of the research found a statistically significant difference at an indication level (α ≤ 0.05) between the mean scores of the teachers of the experimental group using (mobile learning-based training environment) in the pre- and post-application of the achievement test in favor of the post-application, and a statistically significant difference (α ≤ 0.05) between the mean scores of the experimental group using (mobile learning-based training environment), and the mean scores of the control group using (traditional training) in the post-application of the achievement test and the final product criteria checklist in favor of the experimental group. The study recommended that training courses should be organized for teachers to raise awareness of the importance of e-assessment in the teaching process.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Acquisition of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competencies among Faculty Members at Kuwait University from their Point of View: An Exploratory Study

Cybrarians Journal, 2021

This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which faculty members at Kuwait Uni... more This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which faculty members at Kuwait University possess information and communication technology (ICT) competencies from their point of view, in addition to revealing the impact of some independent variables (i.e., gender, specialization, and years of professional experience) on the acquisition level. The study adopted the analytical, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative research methodology, and used the questionnaire as a tool to collect data. A stratified random sample of 441 faculty members participated electronically in this research study during the second semester of 2019/2020 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of availability of information and communication technology competencies among the faculty members at Kuwait University was generally "medium/average" (M = 2.65, SD = 0.99, RII = 0.53). Where the estimates of the faculty members indicated that the extent to which they possess ICT competencies is "medium/average" in all of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics. The findings of the study also revealed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 between the responses of faculty members regarding the degree to which they possess ICT competencies due to the variables of gender (in favor of the female category), specialization (in favor of the category of scientific specializations), and years of professional experience (in favor of the category with the highest years of experience (more than 10 years), in the vast majority of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics separately, and in the tool as a whole. The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Educators: Computational Thinking Competencies

International Journal of E-Learning, 2021

This article provides you with information about the “International Society for Technology in Edu... more This article provides you with information about the “International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Educators: Computational Thinking Competencies”.

Research paper thumbnail of PKM Tools for Academia: Ingredients for Success in the Global Knowledge Society

Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 2014

This study aimed to assess the reaction-based satisfaction level of Kuwait University’s students ... more This study aimed to assess the reaction-based satisfaction level of Kuwait University’s students regarding the utilization of some PKM tools in their academic studies and its influence on managing their knowledge. A total of 100 undergraduate students from the College of Education participated in this research. Regardless of students being not aware at all about KM, PKM, and PKM tools. Yet, the fact is that the results showed a significantly positive, affirmative, and encouraging feelings, attitudes, and perceptions with respect to using PKM tools for academia and personal life as well (i.e., yielded an agreement ratio about 95 percent). The majority of the participants did consider PKM tools as being appropriate and useful to their work/study. They also did believe that PKM tools are important constituents for success in the global knowledge society. Thus, most of the participants were highly satisfied with PKM tools and, accordingly, their reaction-based satisfaction level was pos...

Research paper thumbnail of Faculty's Usage of Academic Support ICT Services at Kuwait University

Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 2019

This study aimed to identify the degree of usage by Kuwait University (KU) faculty members of the... more This study aimed to identify the degree of usage by Kuwait University (KU) faculty members of the academic support information and communication technology (ICT) tools, services, systems, and resources provided by KU. The study comprised an exploratory descriptive research design, using a survey questionnaire technique. A total of 304 faculty members willingly participated in the study. Regardless of two decades of massive investment to situate ICT tools, services, systems, and resources as a pivotal tenet of KU’s teaching, learning, research, and administration practices, the findings revealed that formal academic usage of these ICT services and resources by KU faculty is only “average” (overall mean score is 3.48 (SD = 0.937) on a 6-point rating scale). This implies that the potential benefits of these academic support ICT systems and services have not yet been attained, in terms of serving KU’s strategic objectives. Lack of technical support, awareness of availability, time, know...

Research paper thumbnail of Mind Maps as Facilitative Tools in Science Education

College student journal, 2014

This study explored the perceptions, attitudes, and willingness of pre-service science teachers i... more This study explored the perceptions, attitudes, and willingness of pre-service science teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University about using concept/mind maps and its related application software as facilitative tools, for teaching and learning, in science education. The first level (i.e., reaction) of Kirkpatrick's/Phillips' classic 5-level evaluation research model was exploited to assess and validate the reaction-based satisfaction level of pre-service science teachers. Although the findings disclose that 74.2 percent of participants asserted being aware about concept/mind maps beforehand. However, the vast majority, 96.8 percent, affirmed that they are not aware about concept/mind mapping application software. The results indicate that all participants were highly satisfied with utilizing concept/mind mapping and its related applications in education, accordingly, their reaction-based satisfaction level was extremely positive and significantly high among ...

Research paper thumbnail of Educating with Prezi: A New Presentation Paradigm for Teaching, Learning, and Leading in the Digital Age

College student journal, 2015

This longitudinal descriptive qualitative evaluation action research case study explored the refl... more This longitudinal descriptive qualitative evaluation action research case study explored the reflections/experiences (i.e., their perceptions, attitudes, and feelings) of 450 pre-service teachers in the College of Education (COE) at Kuwait University (KU) over three academic years regarding the use of Prezi as a facilitative storytelling presentation tool for the teaching and learning processes of education. The results of this study were very encouraging and in high support of using Web 2.0/3.0 presentation tools in general and Prezi in particular into education. The qualitative nature of the data collection instruments' used in this research, the implementation period, as well as the ability to scrutinize a large sample size all played a remarkable role in strengthening the statistical significance and confidence in the collected data. This study's findings are coherent with the results of research studies conducted over the past five years as well as the assumptions postu...

Research paper thumbnail of Beyond Computer Literacy: Technology Integration and Curriculum Transformation

College student journal, 2013

Personal computers, the Internet, smartphones, and other forms of information and communication t... more Personal computers, the Internet, smartphones, and other forms of information and communication technology (ICT) have changed our world, our job, our personal lives, as well as how we manage our knowledge and time effectively and efficiently. Research findings in the past decades have acknowledged and affirmed that the content the ICT medium carries is as important as the ICT medium itself. These studies also added a third constituent to the structure of ICT usage and integration; that is the pedagogical approach of teaching and learning. One of the modern ICT trends of organizations involves the incorporation and integration of a blended approach of teaching and learning; which combines the traditional face-to-face instructor-led method with ICT-based online teaching and learning environment. This quasi-experimental research study was deployed to evaluate and identify the effect and usefulness of a blended pedagogical approach of teaching and learning on students' academic achi...

Research paper thumbnail of Educational Guide for Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Applications: A Descriptive and Analytical Study

International Journal of Contemporary Humanities and Educational Science, 2024

This exploratory research study aimed to identify the most prominent generative artificial intell... more This exploratory research study aimed to identify the most prominent generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) software/applications that can be used in the educational system by teachers, educators, and learners as tools that can help enhance the processes of teaching and learning. It adopted a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical research approach as the scientific research methodology relied upon to achieve its objectives. The study used a data collection tool consisting of an analysis card composed of five main sections: defining the tool, its primary functions, its potential advantages, its potential disadvantages, and a summary (overview). The study included a purposive stratified sample of 120 GenAI applications that were carefully selected based on established scientific criteria, following a comprehensive review of the literature and a careful study of the recommendations and proposals of international educational scientific conferences, seminars, and workshops specializing in the field of educational/instructional technology. The study was implemented during the academic year 2023/2024 amidst the widespread dissemination of GenAI applications in all aspects of life, including the education sector. The results of the study led to the preparation of a comprehensive educational guide/handbook that introduces the most prominent GenAI software/applications that can be used in the educational system. The smart applications in this guide were divided into five main categories: (1) Chatbot tools (9 applications) that allow for automated communication and interaction with users through text conversations. (2) Scientific research, writing, and document interaction tools (38 programs) that help researchers and writers accomplish their tasks efficiently, such as searching for information and data, writing content, and managing documents. (3) Media creation tools (46 tools) that enable users to create distinctive media content, such as images, videos, and audio and musical materials. (4) Design, presentation, and visual communication tools (14 applications) that help in designing presentations, creating designs and graphics, and improving visual communication. (5) Teaching and learning tools (13 software) that provide innovative solutions to enhance teaching and learning, such as interactive educational applications, assessment tools, electronic learning platforms, and tools to assist in taking notes, lesson planning, suggesting activities and resources, and creating attractive and effective materials and presentations. These categories represent a comprehensive classification of GenAI applications, making it easier for the reader to find the tools that suit their needs. The study concluded with some recommendations, the most important of which are: (1) Effectively disseminating the GenAI tools guide/manual to all stakeholders in the education sector. (2) Implementing intensive and diverse training programs to enhance the capabilities of those concerned with education in GenAI tools. (3) Producing comprehensive awareness materials about AI and GenAI software and disseminating them through multiple channels. (4) Developing a comprehensive interactive digital educational guide/handbook that addresses the principles, ethics, policies, and procedures related to AI and its uses in teaching and learning environments. (5) Including a course on AI in educational curricula and teacher training programs. (6) Enhancing coordination, cooperation, and partnership between educational institutions and AI specialists to raise awareness about this field and intensify guidance and support programs on the use of GenAI tools in the educational process.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers’ Cybersecurity Awareness Level in General Education Schools in the State of Kuwait From Their Perspective

Journal of Faculty of Education - Benha University, 2024

The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of teachers in the general education... more The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of teachers in the general education schools in the State of Kuwait. Additionally, it sought to explore the impact of some independent variables such as gender, specialization, qualification, ICT international certificate, cybersecurity training courses, ICT proficiency, and years of professional experience on their perceptions and awareness level. The study employed a descriptive analytical quantitative research methodology as its scientific research approach, which was suitable for achieving its research objectives. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, consisting of 47 items after it was validated and tested for reliability, distributed electronically to a purposive stratified sample of 1,664 teachers during the first and second semesters of 2023/2024 school year. The study revealed that the awareness level of teachers regarding cybersecurity was generally categorized as “very high” (M = 4.21, SD = 0.58, RII = 0.84). The results indicated that their awareness level was “very high” for the majority of the scale items (40 statements), while the remaining scale items (7 statements) also achieved a “high” level. Furthermore, the findings showed no statistically significant differences at the 0.05 significance level (α ≤ 0.05) among the means of the inservice teachers’ responses attributed to the variables of gender (male, female), specialization (literary, scientific), ICT international certificate (have, does not have), participation in cybersecurity training courses (attended, did not attend), and years of professional experience (from 0 to less than 10 years, from 10 to less than 20 years, 20 years and above), within the entire instrument/scale. As for the variables of qualification (bachelor, master/doctorate) and ICT proficiency (beginner, intermediate/competent, advanced/proficient), the results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the means responses of participants in favor of teachers who have bachelor degrees and higher ICT proficiency. The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness of AI and its Applications in Teaching and Learning Among Pre-service Teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University

Journal of Education - Sohag University, 2024

The study aimed to measure the artificial intelligence (AI) awareness level of pre-service teache... more The study aimed to measure the artificial intelligence (AI) awareness level of pre-service teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University. Additionally, it sought to explore the impact of some independent variables such as gender/sex, specialization, ICT certification, AI training courses, and ICT proficiency (self-efficacy level) on their perceptions and awareness level. The study employed a descriptive analytical quantitative research methodology as its scientific research approach, which was suitable for achieving its research objectives. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, consisting of 36 items after it was validated and tested for reliability, distributed electronically to a purposive stratified sample of 555 pre-service teachers during the first (fall), second (winter/spring), and third (summer) semesters of 2023/2024 academic year. The study revealed that the awareness level of pre-service teachers at the College of Education, Kuwait University, regarding AI was generally categorized as “high” (M = 3.66, SD = 0.68, RII = 0.73). The results revealed that their awareness level was “high” for the majority of the scale items (35 statements), except for statement no. 19, which obtained a “very high” rating. Furthermore, the findings showed no statistically significant differences at the significance level 0.05 (α ≤ 0.05) among the means of the pre-service teachers’ responses attributed to the variables of specialization (literary, scientific), and ICT certification (holding an international ICT certificate, with no international ICT certificate), within the entire instrument/scale. As for the variables of gender (male, female), participation in AI training courses (attended, did not attend), and ICT proficiency (beginner, intermediate/competent, advanced/proficient), the results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the means of participants’ responses, in the overall tool/scale, in favor of the following: the gender/sex variable favored males, the participation in AI training courses variable favored pre-service teachers who attended previous training courses in AI, and the ICT proficiency level variable showed differences in only one pair, namely (beginner, intermediate/competent), in favor of participants with higher ICT proficiency levels (intermediate/competent). The study concluded with some recommendations, including: (1) Disseminating awareness of the AI culture and promoting optimal utilization of its smart technologies and applications in the field of education among teachers; (2) Providing continuous training and awareness for teachers regarding AI technologies and applications, and how to effectively integrate and employ them in teaching and learning; (3) Preparing an interactive digital educational guide on the applications of AI in teaching and learning; (4) Incorporating the subject of AI, along with its various topics, into educational curricula in schools and universities, as well as integrating it into professional academic programs for teacher preparation; and (5) Enhancing coordination, partnership, and collaboration -locally, regionally, and internationally - among educational institutions, authorities, and organizations specialized in AI, this aims to promote and increase awareness in the field of AI and leverage the experiences and expertise of others in this vital domain.

Research paper thumbnail of Teachers’ Evaluation of the Distance Teaching and Learning System in General Education Schools in the State of Kuwait During the Pandemic

International Journal of Contemporary Humanities and Educational Science, 2024

The study aimed to measure the teachers’ evaluation towards the experience of using the distance/... more The study aimed to measure the teachers’ evaluation towards the experience of using the distance/remote teaching and learning system (electronic, web-based, mobile, and virtual) in general education schools in the State of Kuwait during the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic—this included their degree of acceptance, agreement, and satisfaction with it. In addition to revealing the impact of some independent variables (i.e., gender, school type, specialization, ICT qualification, nationality, years of professional experience, and educational stage on the level of the teachers’ overall evaluation (i.e., their acceptance, agreement, and satisfaction) of this new system. This study utilized the quantitative, descriptive, survey, analytical, and evaluative research design/methodology to achieve its research objectives. Data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed to a stratified sample of 2,529 male and female teachers. Participants were randomly selected electronically during the first and second semesters of 2021/2022 academic year. The findings of the study revealed that the overall evaluation degree of the teachers in Kuwait’s general education schools towards distance/remote education practice during the pandemic was generally “high” (M = 3.49, SD = 0.48, RII = 0.70). Teachers’ responses indicated that their acceptance, agreement, and general satisfaction with the new alternative emergency educational system (distance/remote teaching and learning) ranged from “moderate to very high” across all of the study’s domains. The results also showed that statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 (α ≤ 0.01) were found among the means of the teachers’ responses. These differences were attributed to several variables, such as: gender (favoring females), school type (favoring private general education schools), ICT qualification (favoring those without international ICT certifications), nationality (favoring Kuwaiti citizens), years of professional experience (favoring those with less than 10 years), and educational stage (favoring elementary and secondary stages). However, specialization variable did not show statistically significant differences in participants’ responses. The study concluded with several recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Pre-service Female Teachers’ Cybersecurity Awareness Level in the College of Education at Kuwait University

Journal of Education - Sohag University, 2024

The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of pre-service female teachers in th... more The study aimed to measure the cybersecurity awareness level of pre-service female teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University. Additionally, it sought to explore the impact of some independent variables such as specialization, cybersecurity training courses, and ICT proficiency on their perceptions and awareness level. The study employed a descriptive methodology as its scientific research approach, which was suitable for achieving its research objectives. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, consisting of 47 items after it was validated and tested for reliability, distributed electronically to a purposive stratified sample of 464 pre-service female teachers during the first and second semesters of 2022/2023 academic year. The study revealed that the awareness level of pre-service female teachers at the College of Education, Kuwait University, regarding cybersecurity was generally categorized as “very high” (M = 4.26, SD = 0.50, RII = 0.85). The results indicated that their awareness level was “very high” for the majority of the scale items (39 statements), while the remaining scale items (8 statements) also achieved a “high” level. Furthermore, the findings showed no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≤ 0.05) among the means of the pre-service female teachers’ responses attributed to the variables of specialization (literary, scientific), and ICT proficiency (beginner, intermediate/competent, advanced/proficient), within the entire instrument/scale. As for the variable of participation in cybersecurity courses (attended, did not attend), the results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the means responses of participants in favor of pre-service female teachers who had attended prior cybersecurity courses. The study concluded with some recommendations, including: (1) The necessity of providing continuous training and awareness for teachers about cybersecurity, its threats, and dangers; (2) Providing an interactive digital educational cybersecurity guide; (3) Incorporating cybersecurity topics into various educational curricula in schools and universities; and (4) Enhancing coordination, collaboration, and partnerships between educational institutions and cybersecurity authorities and organizations to promote and increase awareness in the field of cybersecurity.

Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait University Academic Staff’s Perceptions Towards the Use of Distance Teaching and Learning System During the Coronavirus Pandemic Crisis

Journal of Arab Children, 2023

The study aimed to measure the perspectives of members of the academic staff at Kuwait University... more The study aimed to measure the perspectives of members of the academic staff at Kuwait University (KU) towards the experience/practice of using distance teaching and learning system (electronic, web-based, mobile, and virtual) during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic crisis—their degree of acceptance and approval with the new alternative teaching and learning strategy. In addition to revealing the effect of some independent variables (i.e., gender, type of college, type of specialization/major, prior experience in using electronic teaching and learning management platforms, and years of processional experience) on the level of their acceptance, approval, and satisfaction with this distance/remote education system. This study adopted the quantitative, descriptive, survey, analytical, and evaluative research design as the research methodology entrusted with the completion of its investigative research objectives. The online questionnaire was used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 260 members of KU’s academic staff participated electronically in this research study during the fall, spring/winter, and summer semesters of 2021-2022 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of acceptance/agreement and satisfaction among the academic staff members at KU towards distance/remote education practice was generally "high" (M = 3.74, SD = 0.41, RII = 0.75). Where the estimates of the academic staff indicated that the degree of their acceptance/approval and satisfaction with the new alternative emergency educational system (distance/remote teaching and learning) was "high-very high" in all of the study’s domains/indicators. The findings of the study also revealed that there were statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.05 (α ≤ 0.05) between the responses of KU academic staff members with regard to the degree of their acceptance/approval and satisfaction with the practice of distance education due to the variables of gender (in favor of the female group), the type of specialization/major (in favor of the category of humanity and social sciences specializations), prior experience in using electronic teaching and learning management platforms (for the benefit of those with previous experience), and years of professional experience (for the category of less than 10 years). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges to Distance Teaching and Learning in the State of Kuwait’s Public Higher Education Institutions During the Coronavirus Pandemic Era from the Viewpoint of Students: A Mixed Methods Study

International Journal of E-Learning, 2023

The study aimed to highlight and identify the challenges and obstacles encountered by Kuwait publ... more The study aimed to highlight and identify the challenges and obstacles encountered by Kuwait public higher education institutions students throughout the practice of implementing distance/remote education (electronic, Internet/web-based, mobile, and virtual teaching and learning) system during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from their point of view. This descriptive, analytical, and evaluative study adopted the mixed methods research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies). The online questionnaire, informal semi-structured interviews, and focus groups discussions were used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 5,000 students from Kuwait public higher education colleges and institutes participated electronically in this research study - using information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as email, social networking/media apps, and video conferencing software platforms - during the fall, spring, and summer semesters of 2021/2022 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of satisfaction among the students at Kuwait public higher education institutions towards distance/remote teaching and learning practice was generally "high". This gives a positive impression towards moving forward to continue employing and adapting it as an effective and important teaching and learning tool along with the traditional teaching and learning method, and/or when the conventional teaching and learning strategy is not available/possible due to unusual/exceptional natural, political, and health conditions related to crises, disasters, epidemics, and so on. However, it is imperative for the administrators of public higher education institutions in Kuwait to pay close attention and take care to overcome the many challenges, obstacles, problems, and difficulties that faced their students during this exceptional/unusual experience, which were divulged by the outcomes of the current research study, and strive to find proper and effective solutions to them to increase the success of this educational experience and reap the desired educational benefits. Among the most prominent of these challenges and obstacles revealed by the results are the following: (1) the technical problems related to the Internet, communication networks, software, and hardware beyond the control of the teacher and the student during lectures and/or exams (N = 3,072, % = 61.4), (2) the short period of time granted to students to take the exams, despite the large number of questions and their difficulty, to avoid cheating (N = 1,778, % = 35.6), (3) the lack of sympathy/concern, consideration, appreciation, and understanding for students’ technical problems, their circumstances, and conditions, and holding them accountable for that by punishing/penalizing them, and sometimes treating them with abuse, cruelty, and rudeness (N = 1,447, % = 28.9), (4) the large number and difficulty of assignments or duties/tasks (such as: projects, reports, research studies, presentations, activities, etc.) that the student is assigned to complete and deliver them in a short period (N = 1,411, % = 28.2), (5) increasing the difficulty of the tests by placing awkward questions; On the pretext of avoiding cheating (N = 1,205, % = 24.1), (6) the study pressure (N = 1,199, % = 24.0), (7) the failure to use modern and diverse teaching and learning methods and strategies that are suitable for distance/remote education (electronic, Internet/web-based, mobile, and virtual teaching and learning); Which caused difficulty in perceiving, understanding and assimilation among students (N = 1,175, % = 23.5), and (8) the lack of trust and good faith in the students which causes challenging their credibility and being suspicion that they are cheating a lot (N = 974, % = 19.5). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Students’ Satisfaction of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training in the State of Kuwait Towards the Use of Distance Teaching and Learning System During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Case Study

Faculty of Education Journal - Menoufia University, 2023

The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of the Public Authority for Applied Educ... more The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) students towards the implementation of distance teaching and learning system during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from their point of view. In addition to revealing the effect of some independent variables (i.e., gender, type of college/institute, and type of specialization/major) on the level of their satisfaction with this exceptional experience. It also intended to highlight and identify the obstacles and challenges encountered by PAAET students throughout the practice of distance education. This descriptive, analytical, and evaluative study adopted the mixed methods research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies). The online questionnaire, informal semi-structured interviews, and focus groups discussions were used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 2,365 students from PAAET colleges and institutes participated electronically in this research study - using information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as email, social networking/media apps, and video conferencing platforms - during the fall and spring semesters of 2021/2022 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of satisfaction among the students at PAAET towards distance teaching and learning practice was generally "high" (M = 3.44, SD = 1.03, RII = 0.69). Where the estimates of the students indicated that the degree of their satisfaction with the employment of distance education was "high" in all of the study’s indicators. The findings of the study also revealed that there were statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 between the responses of PAAET students with regard to the degree of their satisfaction with the practice of distance education due to the variables of gender (in favor of the male group), the type of college/institute (in favor of scientific colleges and institutes), and the type of specialization (in favor of the category of scientific specializations/majors). As for the difficulties, challenges, and problems that PAAET students faced during this experiment, they were numerous as indicated by the results, the most prominent of which are the following: (1) the technical problems related to the Internet, communication networks, software, and hardware (N = 1,320, % = 55.8), (2) the short time given to students to take the tests (N = 760, % = 32.1), (3) the study pressure (N = 720, % = 30.4), (4) the lack of trust and good faith of some faculty members and the academic support staff in the students which causes challenging their credibility and being suspicion that they are cheating a lot (N = 650, % = 27.5), and (5) increased test difficulty (N = 630, % = 26.6). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Level of Acceptance of Preservice Teachers at Kuwait University for Infographics Applications in Light of the Information and Communication Technology Acceptance Model "ICTAM"

Information Sciences Letters, 2022

This study aimed to determine the level of acceptance of infographics apps among preservice teach... more This study aimed to determine the level of acceptance of infographics apps among preservice teachers at Kuwait University and examine the effect of several independent variables on the level of acceptance. It used exploratory quasiexperimental descriptive analysis based primarily on a quantitative approach and specifically adopted the information and communication technology acceptance model (ICTAM). A stratified sample of 162 preservice female teachers from the College of Education at Kuwait University participated in this study. The participants were introduced to and trained on various infographics apps. At the end of the semester, an anonymous questionnaire was administered through an online survey tool, and the preservice teachers were asked to voluntarily participate and complete the questionnaire. A set of descriptive statistics (i.e., frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential comparisons tests (i.e., independent-samples t-tests, one-way analyses of variance "ANOVAs", Dunnett's C multiple comparisons tests, and Scheffe's multiple comparisons tests) were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the level of acceptance among preservice teachers regarding the use of infographics apps was "high" (M = 3.85, SD = 0.67). Although the results uncovered a few significant differences with regard to some independent variables (i.e., year of study, ICT daily usage, and GPA), the level of overall acceptance of the infographics apps was very high.

Research paper thumbnail of The Extent to which Science Laboratory Technicians in Public Education Schools in the State of Kuwait Possess Professional Competencies from the Viewpoint of Science Laboratory Supervisors and Technicians

Faculty of Education Journal - Menoufia University, 2022

The research study sought to find out the extent to which science laboratory technicians in the t... more The research study sought to find out the extent to which science laboratory technicians in the three educational stages in public education schools in the State of Kuwait possess professional competencies and attempt to uncover the reality of those competencies from the viewpoint of the supervisors and technicians of science laboratories. The study adopted the quantitative, descriptive, analytical, and evaluation survey method to achieve its objectives. As for the study, the sample consisted of 474 participants from the supervisors and technicians of science laboratories in public education sector schools (government and private) in the State of Kuwait. A study tool (questionnaire) was distributed to them in the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021 for data collection, and then descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to process and analyze the data and extract the results of the study. The researchers relied on the descriptive approach in reviewing books, literature, and studies related to in-service training and applying a list of professional competencies to see the extent of their availability among laboratory technicians. The results of the study showed that the extent of possession of science laboratory technicians in public education schools in the State of Kuwait included the following competencies: administrative, security and safety, dealing with learners, dealing with laboratory materials and equipment, dealing with teachers, and using and employing computers. The degree to which they possess these professional competencies is "very high significant". The researchers recommend using the list of professional competencies of science laboratory technicians in public education schools in the State of Kuwait and training laboratory technicians to deal with learners and teachers to facilitate their performance of work. And the necessity of involving laboratory technicians in building training programs through knowing their desires in the educational and learning environment, with the importance of their contribution to education and learning content, to encourage laboratory technicians to learn; To ensure that they continue to possess the professional competencies positively, with efficiency, effectiveness and high quality.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Students’ Satisfaction Towards Distance Teaching and Learning Practice During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Case Study of Kuwait University

Journal of Education - Sohag University, 2022

The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of Kuwait University (KU) students towar... more The study aimed to demonstrate the level of satisfaction of Kuwait University (KU) students towards the practice of distance teaching and learning during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from their point of view. In addition to revealing the effect of some independent variables (i.e., gender, type of specialization, and the university level) on the level of their satisfaction with this exceptional experience. It also intended to highlight and identify the obstacles and challenges encountered by KU students throughout the practice of distance education. This descriptive, analytical, and evaluative study adopted the mixed methods research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies). The online questionnaire, informal semi-structured interviews, and focus groups discussions were used to collect data. A stratified random sample of 2,035 university students from KU participated electronically in this research study - using information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as email, social networking/media apps, and video conferencing platforms - during the first semester of 2020/2021 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of satisfaction among the students at KU towards distance teaching and learning practice was generally "medium/average" (M = 2.76, SD = 1.02, RII = 0.55). Where the estimates of the students indicated that the degree of their satisfaction with the practice of distance education is "medium/average" in all of the study’s indicators. The findings of the study also revealed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 between the responses of KU students with regard to the degree of their satisfaction with the practice of distance education due to the variables of gender (in favor of the male group), the type of specialization (in favor of the category of humanity specializations), and the university level (for the category of graduate students). As for the difficulties, challenges, and problems that students faced during this experiment, they were numerous as indicated by the results, the most prominent of which are the following: (1) technical problems related to the Internet, communication networks, software, and hardware (N = 1,252, % = 61.5), (2) lack of sympathy/concern, consideration, appreciation, and understanding for students’ technical problems, conditions, circumstances, and hold them accountabile for that by punishing/penalizing them (N = 545, % = 26.8), (3) the large amount of and difficult assignments or duties/tasks that the student is entrusted with completing and delivering in a short period (N = 421, % = 20.7), (4) not using the modern teaching and learning methods and strategies that deem appropriate for distance education, which caused difficulty in perception, understanding, and comprehension among students (N = 417, % = 20.5), (5) the short time given to students to take the tests (N = 414, % = 20.3), and (6) increased test difficulty (N = 284, % = 14.0). The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Availability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competencies among Teachers in General Education Schools in the State of Kuwait in Light of Some Variables

Arab Research in the Fields of Specific Education, 2021

This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which teachers in general education... more This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which teachers in general education schools in the State of Kuwait possess information and communication technology (ICT) competencies from their point of view, in addition to revealing the impact of some independent variables (i.e., gender, specialization, and years of professional experience) on the acquisition level. The study adopted the analytical, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative research methodology, and used the questionnaire as a tool to collect data. A stratified random sample of 1,299 teachers participated electronically in this research study during the first semester of 2020/2021 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of availability of information and communication technology competencies among the teachers in general education schools in the State of Kuwait was generally "medium/average" (M = 2.45, SD = 0.84, RII = 0.49). Where the estimates of the teachers indicated that the extent to which they possess ICT competencies is "medium/average" in all of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics. The findings of the study also revealed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 among the averages of teachers’ responses regarding the degree to which they possess ICT competencies due to the variables of gender (in favor of the female category), specialization (in favor of the category of scientific specializations), and years of professional experience (in favor of the category with the lowest years of experience; less than 10 years), in all of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics separately, and in the tool as a whole. The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of The Effectiveness of a Training Environment Based on Mobile Learning on Developing the Skills of Producing E-tests among Intermediate School Teachers in Kuwait

Journal of Scientific Research in Education - Ain Shams University, 2021

The research aimed to verify the effectiveness of a training environment based on mobile learning... more The research aimed to verify the effectiveness of a training environment based on mobile learning on developing the skills of producing e-tests among intermediate school teachers in Kuwait. The sample of the research consisted of (40) intermediate school teachers, who were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental group consisted of (20) teachers using a training environment based on mobile learning, and the control group consisted of (20) teachers using traditional training. The research included two tools: an achievement test, and final product criteria checklist; and to achieve this goal the integration of the descriptive analytical approach and the experimental approach has been used. The results of the research found a statistically significant difference at an indication level (α ≤ 0.05) between the mean scores of the teachers of the experimental group using (mobile learning-based training environment) in the pre- and post-application of the achievement test in favor of the post-application, and a statistically significant difference (α ≤ 0.05) between the mean scores of the experimental group using (mobile learning-based training environment), and the mean scores of the control group using (traditional training) in the post-application of the achievement test and the final product criteria checklist in favor of the experimental group. The study recommended that training courses should be organized for teachers to raise awareness of the importance of e-assessment in the teaching process.

Research paper thumbnail of The Degree of Acquisition of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competencies among Faculty Members at Kuwait University from their Point of View: An Exploratory Study

Cybrarians Journal, 2021

This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which faculty members at Kuwait Uni... more This study aimed to demonstrate/identify the extent/degree to which faculty members at Kuwait University possess information and communication technology (ICT) competencies from their point of view, in addition to revealing the impact of some independent variables (i.e., gender, specialization, and years of professional experience) on the acquisition level. The study adopted the analytical, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative research methodology, and used the questionnaire as a tool to collect data. A stratified random sample of 441 faculty members participated electronically in this research study during the second semester of 2019/2020 academic year. The results indicated that the degree of availability of information and communication technology competencies among the faculty members at Kuwait University was generally "medium/average" (M = 2.65, SD = 0.99, RII = 0.53). Where the estimates of the faculty members indicated that the extent to which they possess ICT competencies is "medium/average" in all of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics. The findings of the study also revealed that there are statistically significant differences at the significance level of 0.01 between the responses of faculty members regarding the degree to which they possess ICT competencies due to the variables of gender (in favor of the female category), specialization (in favor of the category of scientific specializations), and years of professional experience (in favor of the category with the highest years of experience (more than 10 years), in the vast majority of the study’s dimensions/constituents/topics separately, and in the tool as a whole. The study concluded with some recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Educators: Computational Thinking Competencies

International Journal of E-Learning, 2021

This article provides you with information about the “International Society for Technology in Edu... more This article provides you with information about the “International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Educators: Computational Thinking Competencies”.

Research paper thumbnail of PKM Tools for Academia: Ingredients for Success in the Global Knowledge Society

Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 2014

This study aimed to assess the reaction-based satisfaction level of Kuwait University’s students ... more This study aimed to assess the reaction-based satisfaction level of Kuwait University’s students regarding the utilization of some PKM tools in their academic studies and its influence on managing their knowledge. A total of 100 undergraduate students from the College of Education participated in this research. Regardless of students being not aware at all about KM, PKM, and PKM tools. Yet, the fact is that the results showed a significantly positive, affirmative, and encouraging feelings, attitudes, and perceptions with respect to using PKM tools for academia and personal life as well (i.e., yielded an agreement ratio about 95 percent). The majority of the participants did consider PKM tools as being appropriate and useful to their work/study. They also did believe that PKM tools are important constituents for success in the global knowledge society. Thus, most of the participants were highly satisfied with PKM tools and, accordingly, their reaction-based satisfaction level was pos...

Research paper thumbnail of Faculty's Usage of Academic Support ICT Services at Kuwait University

Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 2019

This study aimed to identify the degree of usage by Kuwait University (KU) faculty members of the... more This study aimed to identify the degree of usage by Kuwait University (KU) faculty members of the academic support information and communication technology (ICT) tools, services, systems, and resources provided by KU. The study comprised an exploratory descriptive research design, using a survey questionnaire technique. A total of 304 faculty members willingly participated in the study. Regardless of two decades of massive investment to situate ICT tools, services, systems, and resources as a pivotal tenet of KU’s teaching, learning, research, and administration practices, the findings revealed that formal academic usage of these ICT services and resources by KU faculty is only “average” (overall mean score is 3.48 (SD = 0.937) on a 6-point rating scale). This implies that the potential benefits of these academic support ICT systems and services have not yet been attained, in terms of serving KU’s strategic objectives. Lack of technical support, awareness of availability, time, know...

Research paper thumbnail of Mind Maps as Facilitative Tools in Science Education

College student journal, 2014

This study explored the perceptions, attitudes, and willingness of pre-service science teachers i... more This study explored the perceptions, attitudes, and willingness of pre-service science teachers in the College of Education at Kuwait University about using concept/mind maps and its related application software as facilitative tools, for teaching and learning, in science education. The first level (i.e., reaction) of Kirkpatrick's/Phillips' classic 5-level evaluation research model was exploited to assess and validate the reaction-based satisfaction level of pre-service science teachers. Although the findings disclose that 74.2 percent of participants asserted being aware about concept/mind maps beforehand. However, the vast majority, 96.8 percent, affirmed that they are not aware about concept/mind mapping application software. The results indicate that all participants were highly satisfied with utilizing concept/mind mapping and its related applications in education, accordingly, their reaction-based satisfaction level was extremely positive and significantly high among ...

Research paper thumbnail of Educating with Prezi: A New Presentation Paradigm for Teaching, Learning, and Leading in the Digital Age

College student journal, 2015

This longitudinal descriptive qualitative evaluation action research case study explored the refl... more This longitudinal descriptive qualitative evaluation action research case study explored the reflections/experiences (i.e., their perceptions, attitudes, and feelings) of 450 pre-service teachers in the College of Education (COE) at Kuwait University (KU) over three academic years regarding the use of Prezi as a facilitative storytelling presentation tool for the teaching and learning processes of education. The results of this study were very encouraging and in high support of using Web 2.0/3.0 presentation tools in general and Prezi in particular into education. The qualitative nature of the data collection instruments' used in this research, the implementation period, as well as the ability to scrutinize a large sample size all played a remarkable role in strengthening the statistical significance and confidence in the collected data. This study's findings are coherent with the results of research studies conducted over the past five years as well as the assumptions postu...

Research paper thumbnail of Beyond Computer Literacy: Technology Integration and Curriculum Transformation

College student journal, 2013

Personal computers, the Internet, smartphones, and other forms of information and communication t... more Personal computers, the Internet, smartphones, and other forms of information and communication technology (ICT) have changed our world, our job, our personal lives, as well as how we manage our knowledge and time effectively and efficiently. Research findings in the past decades have acknowledged and affirmed that the content the ICT medium carries is as important as the ICT medium itself. These studies also added a third constituent to the structure of ICT usage and integration; that is the pedagogical approach of teaching and learning. One of the modern ICT trends of organizations involves the incorporation and integration of a blended approach of teaching and learning; which combines the traditional face-to-face instructor-led method with ICT-based online teaching and learning environment. This quasi-experimental research study was deployed to evaluate and identify the effect and usefulness of a blended pedagogical approach of teaching and learning on students' academic achi...