E-Learning and Online Teaching

SEATTLE, Dec. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The revenues for Self-paced eLearning products in the Middle East reached $378.4 million in 2011. The growth rate is 8.2% and revenues will reach $560.7 million ...

Overview
Many theorists predict that online education will gradually surpass traditional classrooms in the role of educating students in higher education....

The growing trend toward online education is self-evident through the increasing popularity of online universities such as University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, Strayer University and many others. Economic trends have forced more and more disenfranchised individuals out of the workforce and into a situation of needing to achieve a higher education to improve their chances for employability; many of the students in these online colleges and universities are students over 25, with families, and some with full- or part-time jobs.

Aisha S. Al-Harthi
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

Abstract

This article reports on a phenomenological research study that was undertaken to provide cultural understanding about the nature of distance education experiences of Arab graduate students pursuing degree programs in the United States. As a theoretical framework, Hofstede’s international difference dimensions and Hall’s concept of low and high context cultures were used. Six participants were interviewed from the Arab Gulf States. Analysis of these interviews revealed cultural aspects related to student background. Description of participant experiences are explained in the following themes: mandatory nature of the experience, persistence of social shame feelings online, language difficulties, less participation, and avoidance of confrontation and aggravation of feelings. This study concludes with a few recommendations for future research.

Keywords: Arab students; culture; distance education; anxiety; online; gender