Educational technologies play a major role in the success of the educational process. These technologies comprise all technical methods related to information searching, transferring, and presenting it to the learner in terms of the required infrastructure in terms of hardware and audio-visual programs.
This study derives its significance from the necessity of evaluating the currently used educational technologies in the higher education institutes. In addition, suggesting the most appropriate methods for improving the quality of learning levels, reducing the costs associated with the education process, enhancing the internal efficiency, and increasing the higher education system’s compliance rates to the requirements of the job market.
This study aims at evaluating all aspects related to the current and futuristic educational technologies in the higher education institutes in the Kingdom, as well as the required aspects for unitizing it efficiently in order to server the educational objectives for both males and females. The additional objectives of this study are represented in the following:
Indicating the required factors, methods, mechanisms, tools, hierarchy, and infrastructure for the efficient utilization of educational technologies in the higher education institutes in the Kingdom.
Developing a comprehensive mechanism/model, suggesting a practical method for the application of educational technologies in various domains of the higher education institutes in the Kingdom.
Proposing efficient rules and methods for utilizing educational technologies in creating the special privacy for female education in the higher education institutes in the Kingdom.
Suggesting comprehensive quality criteria in designing and executing all related aspects.
The scope of this study comprises doing a comprehensive survey for both the current and futuristic educational technologies used in the higher education institutes in the Kingdom. Moreover, it comprises identifying the best available and applied technologies in similar educational institutes at some selected countries in order to develop criteria for comparison and evaluation. Also, this study comprise the possibility of its application in the national educational institutes, including indicating the demanded aspects, methods, mechanisms, tools, hierarchy, infrastructure, and applicability in the higher education institutes, as well as suggesting a practical method for it application relying on a comprehensive modal mechanism/ system that should be suggested. The scope of this study comprises the following aspects:
Identifying the currently applied educational technologies in the higher education institutes in the Kingdom and some selected countries, that are expected to be used in the coming 25 years. In addition, identifying the use demands, feedbacks, the effect of its application on the outputs quality, and the associated feasibilities.
Identifying the modern methods and applications of the educational technologies according to the international experiences, and evaluating its outcomes, capability, efficiency, success, and reasons of failure.
Evaluating the current situation of the educational technologies application in the higher education institutes in the Kingdom, as well as the educational environment where these technologies are used. In addition, evaluating the available and demanded infrastructures for the best application in the Kingdom (human and financial resources.)
Developing the best framework and application method for the updated educational technologies in a comprehensive center in which is considered as an applied modal for using the different educational technologies in all aspects of the current and futuristic higher education institutes in the Kingdom. This should include: Defining the possibly applied educational technologies, scopes of usage, required organizational and infrastructures, how to execute it efficiently, training and skills demands, required mechanisms, internal and external outputs’ capability, and continuous updating on it, as well as a practical system for academic evaluation and supervision.
Determining the outcomes and scientific recommendations, and preparing the final report.
Including high standards criteria in designing all related aspects.
The information used for the study should be complete and authorized. In addition, the study needs the contribution of both stakeholders and the audience via convening seminars, workshops, and intensive brainstorming meetings.
A qualified and skillful team should be formed, and the team shall consult international experts -when needed- in order to complete the study as requested. Moreover, the established scientific procedures should be used in satisfying the needs of the study.
The study’s perspective for the future should comprise the duration of the plan for the coming 25 years (i.e. until the year 2032).
The basic components of this study should be indicated accurately, and studied in terms of the various changes, indicators, and both local and international criteria, in addition to the Kingdom’s development including the economical, social, demographic, technical, and scientific aspects, as well as the requirements of consecutive national development plans.
Literature, theoretical concepts, international experience, and best practices should be reviewed for not fewer than five higher education information technology experiences from different countries of varying development records. The characteristics of those experiences, the reasons for their positive and negative outcomes in the study, as well as the possibility and the way of applying their positive outcomes, and dealing with the findings in the Kingdom effectively, all should be previewed.
The current situation should be studied by reviewing the different aspects of this study, such as challenges and problems, different phenomena, supply and demand, and the effects of different operations in higher education institutes that are related to the study.
The conditions of higher education institutes in the Kingdom should be compared and contrasted within the framework of this study locally, and then compared with international experiences and against educational standards.
Various aspects of the current situations should be analyzed, and the efficiency of related policies and methods should be estimated. In addition, the vital methods required for developing the higher education system should be identified in order to achieve synchronization with the developmental needs and various issues according to their importance and changes both for now and in the future.
A comprehensive strategic analysis for the subject of this study should be performed and should indicate the related issues, aims and future objectives. The analysis should reflect on the challenges and opportunities, obstacles, and the areas of strength and weakness (through comparative and gap studies), then the needs of the stakeholders should be addressed. Indicating the basis of success, drawing the expected scenarios, analyzing the strategic options and their applicability, all help in achieving the real objectives of that long-term plan.
All the changes mentioned in this study should be linked so as to enable deriving comprehensive conclusions. Achieving this might -as needed- demand designing mathematical models to represent interactions between various reciprocating relationships such as components and variables related to the scope of this study. That will provide the tool required to forecast the future behavior of these variables and to conduct reliability analyses for the coming 25 years, .i.e. until the year 2032.
The most effective factors in this study should be the subject of prognostic studies that should be compiled and supported whenever applicable by graphical representation.
The methods and best practices should be presented, and the requirements for achieving the objectives of the study should be proposed.
The study should introduce total quality methods and mechanisms that shall achieve close and harmonic coordination among the parameters of the study and the recommended practices so that their application fits labor market demands, international changes, and the current and future local needs.
Determining the results and giving recommendation
Specific Requirements
A seminar, workshops, and meetings with focus groups should be held in order to conceive and take note of different opinions that help in giving recommendations.
All the activities done in these brainstorming meetings, the seminar and the workshops should be documented and presented to the Supervising Committee of Aafaq.
All information related to the currently used educational technologies in the higher education institutes in the Kingdom, and expected to be used among the coming 25 years should be available, as well as the applies procedures. In addition, the educational technologies contribution towards the educational process, the students outreach, infrastructures, financial resources, and the currently available human forces, and what’s expected to be available in the future, all should be suggested as well.
Reference points and standards for developing the framework and the practical vision of a comprehensive center should be indicated. This center should represent an applied model for using the various educational technologies in all aspects of the higher education institutes in the Kingdom, both the current and futuristic. In addition, it should include all the aspects related to applying the information technology in the best way, as well as giving the opportunity for modifications and improvements in order to enhance the performance.
Determining the scientific and objective outcomes which help in forming scientific recommendations in order to include it in the long term plan, and prepare the final report.
This study should come out with a comprehensive report that includes the following:
An executive summary of the study.
A presentation of the results of the current situation analysis study, comparative studies, prognostic studies, including the current and futuristic trends and developments.
Highlights of the outcomes of meetings with focus groups, general seminars, brainstorming seminars, workshops, etc.
Displaying the different scenarios, the outcomes of the efficiency evaluation, and the issues according to their significance, all strategic options and their applicability.
Suggesting suitable methods, plans, trends, criteria, and mechanisms to develop the educational technologies in the higher education institutes.
Determining the needed methods of execution, budgets, temporal plan, execution responsibilities, training requirements, changing demands, and other technical parameters that affect the performance of the system.
Defining a monitoring and control system, benchmarks, measuring criteria, and standardized indicators.
Practical recommendations helping in forming the long term plan regarding the educational technologies.
