Abstract
Keeping its higher education systems competitive in the 21st century, the technology era, is the vital task of higher education in the Gulf Region as well as throughout the world (Abdullah, 2001; Alaasemi, 2003; Al-Nagim, 2002; Watson, 2001). The use of the Internet and Web-based tools and support systems has been introduced in higher education settings, making the education systems more globalized and creating shareable platforms for new forms of peer collaboration and instructor-student communication. Processes that were previously limited in the extent to which peer collaboration, communication, and
sharing could occur are now becoming electronic to overcome these limitations. An example are the processes relating to portfolio development. Portfolios have been used in teacher education programs for many years within different higher education settings worldwide.
Developing portfolios in electronic form, supported by a Web-based system that integrates the portfolio development process with tools for peer review, communication, and more flexible feedback from the instructor, is an example of how information and communication technologies can make learning processes more productive. A further benefit is that students strengthen their skills at using technology for publishing and communication, important areas of professional growth for pre-service teachers. These skills are particularly important for preservice teachers in the Gulf Region, in that their experiences with technology for learning have been limited.
Thus although this dissertation, “Investigating electronic portfolios in pre-service teacher education in the Gulf Region,” has a specific focus on two particular countries in the Gulf Region, it reflects questions that are currently being asked at many organizations for higher education world wide, which are overall questions guiding the research:
“(a) In what ways can the use of an electronic portfolio lead to a more
productive teaching and learning environment in higher education in
the Gulf region, and (b) Under what conditions can the use of the
electronic portfolio be strengthened given the context of higher
education in the Gulf Region?”
sharing could occur are now becoming electronic to overcome these limitations. An example are the processes relating to portfolio development. Portfolios have been used in teacher education programs for many years within different higher education settings worldwide.
Developing portfolios in electronic form, supported by a Web-based system that integrates the portfolio development process with tools for peer review, communication, and more flexible feedback from the instructor, is an example of how information and communication technologies can make learning processes more productive. A further benefit is that students strengthen their skills at using technology for publishing and communication, important areas of professional growth for pre-service teachers. These skills are particularly important for preservice teachers in the Gulf Region, in that their experiences with technology for learning have been limited.
Thus although this dissertation, “Investigating electronic portfolios in pre-service teacher education in the Gulf Region,” has a specific focus on two particular countries in the Gulf Region, it reflects questions that are currently being asked at many organizations for higher education world wide, which are overall questions guiding the research:
“(a) In what ways can the use of an electronic portfolio lead to a more
productive teaching and learning environment in higher education in
the Gulf region, and (b) Under what conditions can the use of the
electronic portfolio be strengthened given the context of higher
education in the Gulf Region?”
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 31 Mar 2006 |
| Place of Publication | Enschede |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 90-365-2333-8 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Keywords
- IR-55826