Education technology - higher education
F. Shamsi Ashteani; H. Kalantari Dehaghi; M. Nazarzadeh Zare
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Nowadays, the development and deployment of technologies in educational settings seem not to be enough to take advantage of their benefits; rather, this development and deployment require the possession of a series of other skills, such as communication skills. Faculty members, ...
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Background and Objectives: Nowadays, the development and deployment of technologies in educational settings seem not to be enough to take advantage of their benefits; rather, this development and deployment require the possession of a series of other skills, such as communication skills. Faculty members, as one of the determinants of communication in the university environment and as one of the most important pillars for maintaining quality in higher education, need to have the necessary communication skills for teaching, especially in virtual spaces. In addition to having communication skills, the use of ethics in educational settings can also help establish a worthy, constructive, and productive relationship between individuals. Therefore, one of the most fundamental criteria of the higher education system that faculty members are obligated to observe in their profession is professional ethics. In addition to having communication skills and professional ethics in the use of technology, the acceptance of technology by users is also of great importance, as there is always resistance to the acceptance of new technologies. A review of past research regarding the research variables at the domestic and international levels indicates a significant relationship between communication skills and professional ethics in the studies conducted at the domestic and international levels. Accordingly, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of technology acceptance in the relationship between communication skills and professional ethics of faculty members in the course of virtual education.Methods: The present research method was a descriptive-correlational study of the structural equation modeling type. The statistical population of the present study included all 288 faculty members of Arak University, of whom 168 were selected using a simple random sampling method based on the Krejcie and Morgan table. In this research, three questionnaires on communication skills, professional ethics, and technology acceptance were used to collect the required data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data in SPSS and PLS software.Findings: The findings of the present study indicated a significant effect of communication skills on professional ethics (0.323), a significant effect of communication skills on technology acceptance (0.334), and a significant effect of technology acceptance on professional ethics (0.257). Additionally, the other findings of the study indicated an indirect and significant effect of communication skills on professional ethics through technology acceptance (0.086). Furthermore, the measurement and model fit indices also indicated the model's desirability.Conclusion: Overall, the results of this research showed that the communication skills of professors in the virtual education environment would play a central and decisive role in improving their professional ethics. These skills had a positive effect on the professional ethics of professors in several ways: 1. the communication skills of professors in the virtual education environment directly improved their ethical behaviors and interactions with students, 2. professors with strong communication skills would be able to apply the principles of professional ethics more effectively in the virtual education process by creating an environment based on trust, respect, and empathy, 3. the communication skills of professors, indirectly and through increasing the acceptance of educational technologies among them, strengthened professional ethics in the virtual education environment, and 4. having strong communication skills, professors would be able to facilitate the process of accepting and using new educational technologies in their work environment. This, in turn, would lead to the improvement of teaching quality, more effective interaction with students, and, as a result, the promotion of professional ethics in the virtual education environment. In general, improving communication skills and facilitating the process of technology acceptance among professors are effective strategies for promoting professional ethics in virtual education. Therefore, paying attention to these components in the design and implementation of professional development programs for professors can play an important role in promoting their professional ethics in the virtual education environment.
Educational Technology
S. Damsaz; K Taghipour; F. Mahmoodi
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The development and establishment of instructional technologies in instructional environments is not enough merely due to its benefits, but it must be accepted by users. Acceptance of technology refers to the apparent interest among a group to use information and communication ...
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Background and Objectives: The development and establishment of instructional technologies in instructional environments is not enough merely due to its benefits, but it must be accepted by users. Acceptance of technology refers to the apparent interest among a group to use information and communication technologies in order to perform the tasks that these technologies are designed to support. Acceptance of technology by people who use it is one of the influential factors on its success, results, and positive effects for organizations. If the potential users of the technology resist its use, the desired goals cannot be achieved. One of the new technologies that has emerged in the Iran's education due to the Corona pandemic is SHAD system, which was created in line with electronic instruction for elementary schools. Since teachers have a key role in the effective use of the SHAD system in education and their perceptions and attitudes towards technology influence their effective use in the teaching and learning process, it is necessary to investigate the acceptance of the SHAD system among elementary school teachers. Therefore, the current research was conducted with the aim of investigating the factors affecting on the acceptance of the SHAD system among lementary school teachers in Tabriz.Methods: The research method was correlational-descriptive. The statistical population included all the elementary school teachers in the five districts of Tabriz; based on the Krejcie and Morgan table and using stratified random sampling, a total number of 343 people were included in the sample. Gardner & Amoroso’s technology acceptance questionnaire (2004) was used to collect the required data. To assess the diagnostic reliability of the factor loadings of the questionnaire items, Cronbach’s α, composite reliability (CR), and average variance extracted (AVE) were used. All questionnaire items were acceptable, well defined, and had a range of 0.66 to 0.95. Cronbach’s α for all constructs was above 0.7, indicating a very high reliability of the instrument and its sub-components. To assess the CR of each construct, the Dillon-Goldstein coefficient (ρc) was used. Since PLS uses the factor scores of the subjects for analysis unlike ordinary regression, it was necessary to consider the factor loadings of each item in calculating the validity index. Therefore, the acceptable values of ρc should be 0.7 or higher. To assess convergent validity, the AVE was used and the results showed that the construct of interest accounted for about 50 percent or more of the variance of its indicators. To assess the discriminant validity of the constructs, Fornell and Larcker (1981) suggest that the square root of the AVE of a construct should be greater than its correlation with other constructs. This indicated that the construct h a higher correlation with its own indicators than with other constructs. The results obtained showed that the indicators were valid for the constructs. All constructs showed adequate convergent validity, with AVE values above 0.5. All constructs showed satisfactory reliability, with CR and CA values above 0.7. "Structural Equation Modeling" was used to analyze the data.Findings: The results showed that the variables of perceived usefulness, attitude towards use, and voluntary use, unlike the variables of perceived ease of use and perceived complexity, had a significant relationship with the behavioral intention to use the SHAD system (acceptance of the SHAD system) and 69% of the variance of the behavioral intention to use the SHAD system was explained through these variables.Conclusion: In order to increase the acceptance rate of the SHAD system among elementary school teachers, it is recommended that teachers be taught how to use the SHAD system correctly and appropriately by instructional technology experts so that they are convinced to use and accept this system. The user interface of the system should be prepared in such a way that even teachers with the the least knowledge of technology can easily use it. A 24-hour support by experienced experts in the field of using the SHAD system should be provided for teachers so that they can use their guidance when facing problems
Electronic learning- virtual
Kh. Mirzaei; H. Saadi; S.H. Movahedmohamadi; R. Movahedi
Abstract
Background and Objectives:E-learning is the newest form of distance learning and is called an approach to curriculum planning in which, in addition to using inclusive methods, computer tools and the Internet are used. The first generation of e-learning, or web-based learning programs, focused on providing ...
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Background and Objectives:E-learning is the newest form of distance learning and is called an approach to curriculum planning in which, in addition to using inclusive methods, computer tools and the Internet are used. The first generation of e-learning, or web-based learning programs, focused on providing physical classes based on educational content and the Internet. Today, many universities and educational institutions around the world have stepped in to design and offer e-learning programs and courses to meet the growing demand for education. One of the desirable features that can play an important role in increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of this type of training is the personalization of the learning environment according to the characteristics of learners. This adaptation is in order for the user to be able to benefit from the learning content and other services of the system according to their goals, knowledge and preferences, and the system, instead of treating everyone equally, treats everyone according to its own characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effective factors of e-learning adoption in agricultural higher education universities of Iran and to determine the most effective structures on the acceptance of this technology by the faculty members and graduate students. This research was performed to measure the acceptance using survey and the multivariate statistical technique of path analyses. Method and Materials: Statistical population of this research consisted of faculty members and postgraduate students in Iran’s higher agricultural education centers. Total Cronbach Alpha of the questionnaire, for the reliability of the 68 items of the questionnaire, was 88.5 % that is an acceptable figure which demonstrates the high reliability of the questionnaire. In total, 646 questionnaires were collected from 4 universities (Tehran University, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hormozgan University and Torbat Heydariyeh University). After multivariate statistical analysis ‘Path analysis’ and through calculating Beta Coefficients for different routes, the importance of each path was determined. Findings: The results showed that if members of the faculty and postgraduate students of higher education of agriculture in Iran get this reflection that the use of e-learning to carry out their educational activities is useful and reliable at higher agricultural education centers, even those people are not consistent with their subjective norms and have risks, they will continue to use e-learning. From the perspective of the respondents, e-learning is a safe and appropriate education. Therefore, possible risks in such training in virtual environments does not affect their attitude towards this type of training. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be said that if faculty members and graduate students of agricultural higher education in Iran come to the mentality that using e-learning to carry out their educational activities in agricultural higher education centers is "beneficial" as well as "reliable”, even if it is not compatible with their "mental norm" and has a "perceived risk", they will still use e-learning.
