Utilization of Online Learning Platforms by LIS Arab Faculty Members during the Coronavirus Outbreak

What is it about?

The goal of this study is to investigate the use of online learning platforms by Arab public universities during the Novel Coronavirus outbreak from the perspective of faculty members of library & information sciences. A quantitative research approach was used in the form of an online survey conducted in April 2020 on 121 members, 72 males, and 49 females. Platforms, such as Youtube, Whatsapp, presentation tube, Google classrooms, Zoom, Blackboard, and Facebook have been identified as the most commonly used online learning platforms. Students’ engagement and improvement of their digital literacy were the most significant reasons for using these platforms

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This study aims to gain insight into the usage of online learning platforms by Arab public universities during the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus from the perspective of faculty members in one of the academic disciplines in public Arab universities, namely “library and information science” to reflect the rest of the other disciplines, especially those close to this specialty, and also in In light of the similarities that govern the Arab educational environment, such as language, culture, and common borders. To date, such a topic has limited earlier research. The significance of this study shows the major impact this outbreak has on university education and how it impacts on the academic interaction/communication between faculty members and students that almost disappeared under the circumstances of this epidemic, which called for the relationship to be strengthened by switching to electronic platforms as an unavoidable solution to ensure the flow of education. Supported by Alenezi (2012), the findings of the study may be adopted as a tool of technology in many Arab countries. Policymakers can make use of faculty members’ perceptions to help shape e-learning policies. With the help of these policies, the needs and requirements of relevant technologies in universities could be addressed. Furthermore, the findings could provide new data on the attitudes of faculty members toward e-learning based on certain demographic features from different sites in the Arab world. This study focuses only on those faculty members who are using specific online learning platforms. The limited size of faculty members' representation may not help generalize the results of the study more widely.

Perspectives