Effects of E-Learning on Girls' Presence and Empowerment to Access Education

Hessah Al-Shaya,Afnan Oyaid

doi:10.4018/ijicte.20210701.oa6

Abstract

Interaction is a pivotal pedagogical concept enjoying wide-scale attention from contemporary e-learning theorists. This study investigated the effects of e-learning environments on Saudi girls' social presence and empowerment to access education. Using the community of inquiry questionnaire, the authors measured the participants' social presence in e-learning environments and conducted a discussion for their opinions regarding such environments' capacity to promote women's access to education. The study evaluates the data of 35 participants and considers descriptive statistics. The results revealed that the female student participants from Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University-affiliated secondary school enjoy high levels of interaction in delivered e-learning environments. Furthermore, there was consensus on such environments' capacity to promote women's empowerment to access education and be open to the surrounding world because of their unlimited potential to overcome time and place limits as well as their benefits in tandem with women's needs and circumstances.

Highlights

Women’s empowerment is the most significant concept acknowledging women’s contributions as active, indispensable elements for societal growth and development
The overall mean of social presence was 3.61, statistically significant and emphasising that the students already perceive high interaction levels with delivered e-learning environments’ social presence. This result corresponds to the literature, e.g., Garrison et al (2000) and Garrison et al (2011) but contradicts Annand’s (2011) results: the community of inquiry framework (CoIF) does not explain the effect of social presence on successful interactions in e-learning environments
Item 18 (i.e., ‘I felt comfortable participating in the Classera-delivered course discussions’) had a mean of 3.94 and ranked first among interaction levels with e-learning environments’ social presence with high interaction levels

Summary

Introduction

Women’s empowerment is the most significant concept acknowledging women’s contributions as active, indispensable elements for societal growth and development. In a speech at the 72nd regular session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72) in September 2017, the female representative of Saudi Arabia confirmed the country’s deep belief in women’s critical role in society’s power. Her words confirmed that acknowledging women’s social, economic, and political empowerment; providing them with safe atmospheres and services facilitating their participation in their national duties; and ensuring they benefit from the full enjoyment of their rights would contribute to increasing development along with accomplishing the country’s sustainable development Vision 2030. Lack of access to ICT denies women and their families growth opportunities and increased income; reduces communities’ skill levels and limits their productivity; and hinders competitiveness in global markets (Dlodlo, 2009)

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