Developing An Ict Professional Development Model For Iranian Faculty Members

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Date
2011-08
Authors
Jahani, Sheida
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Faculty members are now experiencing pressure to acquire the necessary skills to make effective use of computer technology in teaching and learning, research and providing service. For this reason, ICT has been considered as the key element for the development and improvement of higher education in Iran. However, there are numerous challenges for universities to overcome in employing ICT; lack of a national ICT in higher education policy, inadequate investment, ICT phobia, cultural and financial obstacles, lack of continuity in ICT use, and finally lack of systematic training and professional development programmes. Therefore, this study attempts to address the issues of training and professional development by producing an ICT professional development model for Iranian faculty members, based on a needs assessment. To accomplish the objectives of this study a combination of qualitative (Sequential Exploratory Design) and quantitative research methodologies is utilised. Also a new instrument was constructed by the researcher for data collection and analysis. Two hundred and fifty faculty members have participated in this research. The four comprehensive universities, in Tehran, where the study was conducted were: Tehran University, Shahid Beheshti University, Shahed University and Alzahra University. The findings confirmed that the main factors of the ICT professional development model: personal development, collaboration and instructional plan, were crucial. In addition, the results indicated that incentives, content of the instructional plan, as well as ICT priorities were important to the success of the newly developed model.
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Keywords
Ict Professional Development Model , Iranian Faculty Members
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