Designing an e-education system in the University of Mustansiriyah Baghdad, Iraq
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Date
2011
Authors
Flayyeh Elameer, Amer Saleem
Journal Title
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Abstract
The University of Mustansiriyah (UoMust) is one of the largest public
universities in Iraq. Sadly, it was almost completely destroyed during the 2003 Gulf
War. Though restoration work is underway, it continues to face problems common to all
Iraqi universities today - absenteeism, the brain drain syndrome, continued violence and
lack of security, and inadequate teaching material and educational technologies.
Designing an e-education system for UoMust (which would enhance learning
opportunities for about 41000 individuals) was the main objective of this e-education
research. Educational case studies researches are mostly qualitative, using data which is
descriptive in nature. Based on the nature of this research that was conducted by both
technologist and educationalist, both the qualitative and quantitative methods were
employed and a general ADDIE instructional design research framework was utilised.
This case-study research is the result of a thorough, in-depth investigation into the
situation found in UoMust today. It is also a self-explanatory research using systematic
methodology, data collection and information analysis, in order to reach targeted results.
It also draws from results of previous studies and the combined effect of all the research
work has resulted in a comprehensive e-education system comprising a unique eeducation
framework, a complete software and hardware infrastructure, a strategy to
adopt and implement the system with a holistic human resources capacity building plan
for UoMust. This research is an e-education research for all academic and technical staff
as well as other individuals who share the relevant research objectives. It also serves as
a building technologies and technology transfer research, obtaining targeted results
through the use of specific research instruments and well-designed research
questionnaires. Thus, valid, relevant and reliable testing of the research subject and
objectives were carried out (some even prior to the official commencement date) using a
six-point Likert scale. The data obtained from a sample of 287 UoMust academics and
350 students show a generally positive attitude among the students and academics
towards the implementation of an e-education system in UoMust. The design of the eeducation
system started with a study of the existing e-Iearning framework and model
adopted by universities around the world, and that is, the well-designed instructional
pedagogical base B. H. Khan octagonal theoretical framework for e-Iearning. After
careful study and in-depth investigation, it was found that Khan's framework was not
adequate to meet the dire need of UoMust. Additionally, the rich history of e-education
run by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) also inspired a new, enhanced framework
system ideally suited for UoMust: an orbital e-education framework designed to cover
all the education dimensions in UoMust. It is the first e-education framework that takes
into consideration the stability, sustainability, standardization and modularity in
education. A special technological e-education design and environment have been
completed and these are based on various software: MoodIe, LAMS, and JUSUR, along
with the USM-SDE e-learning portal standards. This orbital e-education framework is
exactly what UoMust needs. To further enhance the implementation of the system, a
special e-education strategy based on blended learning was created and a complete
human resources capacity building plan for two years was completed. A well-designed
and tested questionnaire was distributed at random to 231 individuals among the
UoMust academics in order to conduct the post-evaluation process for the complete
system. Some individuals were interviewed by experts and this completed the final part
of this research. All the statistical test results were derived using SPSS ver. 14. The
UoMust e-education system (which is the direct result of this research) is certain to
benefit not only· UoMust, but the whole Iraqi higher education community. Most of the
academics (87%) interviewed welcomed the orbital e-education framework and would
gladly encourage its adoption and use. Three out of four (72 %) agree that it covers
most of the e-Iearning issues, and were happy to see attention given to areas not
previously dealt with in earlier frameworks: stability, sustainability, modularity, and
standard ability of learning. It promises to be an exemplary model of how technology
and academia can work hand-in-hand.