E-Learning and ICT in Education at Palestinian Schools: Towards 21st Century Skills*
Keywords:
ICT in Education, E-Learning, 21st Century Skills (21CS), Education System, School, Initiative, Most Significant Change (MSC), Story Collection, Thematic Coding, Teaching, Teachers, Students, Behavior, Community, ObstaclesAbstract
This paper aims to evaluate e-learning and ICT in education in the Palestinian primary and secondary schools in light of the School-Led Initiatives (SLIs) on e-learning; part of a project funded by the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) for the Palestinian Ministry of Education (MoEHE). It focuses on the e-learning intervention action research conducted during 2014-2015. We measured the most significant change in the MoEHE and among the stakeholders (school principals, teachers, students and their families) in response to the SLIs. Moreover, we explored the impact of SLIs on the teaching and learning processes. We used focus groups for data collection; stakeholders were asked about new teaching practices to develop 21st century transversal skills, such as problem solving, teamwork, and utilization of ICT in their initiatives as an essential tool for life skills.Results showed that there was a transformation in teacher and student behavior, as active learning strategies made teaching more effective and learning more enjoyable. Underachieving and shy students participated in learning activities. On the other hand, teachers pointed out that they still need more practice to acquire the 21st century skills themselves, and that educational policy should encourage acquiring such skills by updating the curriculum and providing teachers with the needed motivation, support and training. However, there were serious obstacles related to school infrastructure, curriculum density, school culture and ICT skills. For the change to occur, all stakeholders should be involved in the efforts to promote the 21st century skills and to redesign the curriculum taking into account knowledge, learning methods and assessment.
Keywords: ICT in Education, E-Learning, 21st Century Skills (21CS), Education System, School, Initiative, Most Significant Change (MSC), Story Collection, Thematic Coding, Teaching, Teachers, Students, Behavior, Community, Obstacles.
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