E-learning readiness and its correlation among secondary school teachers in Nablus, Palestine

Abstract

Electronic learning (e-learning) is an instructional method that delivers learning content electronically whether through synchronous or asynchronous online modes, or through multimedia platforms such as CD-ROMs or DVDs. In Israeli-occupied Palestine, e-learning is a viable means of offering continuous education to Palestinians, especially in war-stricken zones such as Nablus. This study explored the readiness level of the secondary school teachers in Nablus to adopt e-learning in three important aspects: technological readiness, psychological readiness and equipment readiness. It also examined whether male and female teachers differed in their perspectives of e-learning readiness. A total of 475 teachers (236 males and 239 females) sampled from 24 secondary schools in Nablus participated in the survey that employed a 23-item self constructed questionnaire measuring technological, psychological, and equipment readiness on a 5-point Likert scale. The items were first content validated by experts and pilot-tested before being administered to the respondents. The data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, Cohen’s d for effect sizes, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation tests. The results showed that secondary school teachers in Nablus were quite psychologically ready to use e-learning, but this aspect was not equally supported by technological and equipment readiness. Technological, equipment and psychological readiness were all found to be significant correlated with e-learning readiness with very strong influences. Statistically significant gender differences were detected for technological, equipment and overall e-learning readiness, but not for psychological readiness. However, the magnitude of the differences were considered small based on the interpretation of Cohen’s d for effect sizes. The findings have important implications on what the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Nablus school principals need to put in place in order to better prepare their teachers and schools for e-learning.