Technology-based learning environments
F. Khalvandi; SR. Emadi; MA. Omrani
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Managing the e-learning environment means emphasizing on the design and implementation of those strategies that, on one hand, help to fulfill the mission and goals of the education system, and on the other hand, lead to effective learning. This term refers to a new set of knowledge ...
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Background and Objectives: Managing the e-learning environment means emphasizing on the design and implementation of those strategies that, on one hand, help to fulfill the mission and goals of the education system, and on the other hand, lead to effective learning. This term refers to a new set of knowledge and skills in the field of optimal use of the electronic learning environment advantages and capabilities with a futuristic approach. It aims to prepare the mentality and skill power of learners for the changes and developments that occur as the result of the entry of information and communication technology into the field of education. Since the design and creation of practical and useful models for managing electronic learning environment in education system can play an important role in the realization of educational goals, the current research was conducted with the aim of designing a conceptual model for managing electronic learning environment in schools.Methods: This study was practical by purpose and conducted with a mixed-method approach by means of sequential exploratory design. In a way that by using the qualitative method, firstly the pattern or the research conceptual framework was obtained, and then the desired model was validated by quantitative method. In the qualitative part, the statistical population included university professors of Tehran in the field of educational technology and educational administration. Based on targeted snowball method of sampling and theoretical saturation, 17 people were selected. The data collection tool in the quantitative phase was a semi-structured interview. Participating experts assessed the face and content validity of the quantitative tool and its reliability was calculated by the Holsti’s coefficient as 0.92. In the quantitative part, by census method of sampling, all 114 outstanding teachers, experts and educational technologists of Shahindej Department of Education were selected and finally 103 completed the questionnaires. A researcher-made questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale was developed including 56 items based on the indicators identified in the qualitative stage. To measure the validity of the questionnaire, in addition to the face and content validity done by experts, the Average Variance Extracted Index (AVE) was used which its value calculated as to be above 0.6. The reliability of the instrument was measured by the two criteria of Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability, which in both criteria, the values were higher than 0.8. Findings: In the qualitative phase, by using the thematic analysis and open, axial and selective coding method of Strauss and Corbin, 4 dimensions, 15 components and 56 indicators were identified and then primary conceptual model of electronic learning environment management was proposed. The four dimensions of model along with their components were “Teaching-learning process" with the components of active learning, teacher's role, learning styles, learning motivation, evaluation methods, "Teaching content" with the components of content suitability, content production, content quality, content presentation, "Curriculum design" with the components of constructivist approach, problem-oriented learning, socialization of learners and "Levels of interactions" with the components of teacher-learner, learner-learner, teacher-parents. Validating the proposed model by using the structural equation modeling method with the help of software (Smart PLS) showed that the proposed model had the required validity.Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be stated that the management of the electronic learning environment is a holistic approach aiming to identify and design strategies that create active learning among the learners. Creating an integrated and effective management system in the e-learning environment can help to make the e-learning system more efficient and makes its activities transparent. The use of appropriate mechanisms in the management of the electronic learning environment, by specifying the current and desirable state of the electronic education system, helps to reveal the opportunities and challenges that this system faces and to provide a basis for the correction and improvement of the existing trends and the promotion and excellence of the future states of the electronic education system.
Educational Management
Z. Kashaniha; F. Khalvandi
Abstract
Background and Objective:As universities and higher education institutions nurture productive human capital, they are pressured by educational policymakers and society to function, be accountable, to achieve justice, and to transform society. This necessitates the reconstruction of a new concept of leadership ...
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Background and Objective:As universities and higher education institutions nurture productive human capital, they are pressured by educational policymakers and society to function, be accountable, to achieve justice, and to transform society. This necessitates the reconstruction of a new concept of leadership and its ethics. Higher education is a complementary institution to systematic primary and secondary public education and a product of the revival of civilization. Higher education can serve the development of the infrastructure and structures of society in all dimensions and facilitate the preservation and protection of the achievements and ideals of society. The higher education system has a significant share and importance in economic, social and cultural development due to its role in training skilled and specialized human resources needed by the economic and social sectors. Efficient higher education increases the efficiency of all institutions and organizations in society and, due to limited resources, increases the productivity and efficiency of individuals and organizations; Important factors such as spirituality in the workplace can play a role in the productivity of this institution. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive role of spirituality on the leadership effectiveness in the workplace of the university. Methods: By purposes, this research is practical and on the base of data collection, the quantitative research method is descriptive. By stratified random sampling method, 115 faculty members of Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University were selected in the academic year of 2014-2015. Spirituality in the workplace Milliman et al.’s questionnaire and Ramsend's questionnaire of "Leadership Effectiveness" were used. The factual and content validity of the questionnaires was confirmed by five professors in the subject area. The obtained Cronbach's alpha, by SPSS software 22 version, was 0.889 and 0.88, respectively, for the reliability of the tools. Findings:The findings showed that the coefficient influence of spirituality on leadership effectiveness is 0.75, at the level of 0.05. Also, according to the results of the standard coefficients, the meaningful work and Alignment with the organization’s values, respectively, 0.26 and 0.31 at the level of 0.05 are significant. The Alignment with the organization’s values component by itself can be as the strongest predictor of leadership effectiveness in the workplace of the university and can significantly explain 0.54% of total variance of leadership effectiveness in the workplace of the university. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that attention to the two components of meaningful work and alignment of values in the workplace as a predictor of leadership effectiveness can improve the effectiveness of leadership in management departments. For this purpose, it is suggested that at the level of the officials of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, compiling the regulations in line with the educational and research duties of the professors should be included. First, it is considered valuable in terms of its value principles, and the expected expectations are in line with the spiritual values, so that the university decision-makers and policy-makers by setting strategies and goals in the upstream documents of the university, as well as defining their operation by drafting new regulations should take practical measures regarding educational and research activities to produce basic ethics knowledge among faculty members in order to create a meaningful sense of work in terms of value.
