Role of gender and social context in readiness for e-learning in Saudi high schools

ABSTRACT

There is limited evidence of the effects of culture and context on student readiness for e-learning, and how these might interact with gender. This study addresses this gap by studying the effect of culture and context on the readiness of high school students to use e-learning in a unique setting: an education system in which male and female students are educated separately. A mixed methods research approach was adopted because of our emphasis on the subjective aspect of the concept of readiness. Findings demonstrate that there are clear differences between the genders, but that these must be interpreted carefully in this cultural setting. There is scope for further research that investigates this gender divide in other e-learning contexts, including those where male and female students learn together and those where other cultural factors may influence student readiness to use e-learning.

Keywords:

• e-learning
• e-learning readiness
• gender
• context

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to the researchers supporting project number RSP-2020/233, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ibrahim Mutambik

Ibrahim Mutambik is an assistant professor in the Department of Information Science, College of Arts, at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. He gained his PhD in the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, UK. His research interests focus on learning analytics, online learning, knowledge management, and knowledge sharing.

John Lee

John Lee is professor of digital media in Edinburgh College of Art and School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, UK. He holds a PhD in cognitive science from Edinburgh. Having worked in computer-aided design, artificial intelligence, representation, reasoning, and learning, his recent research focuses on technology in learning and teaching.

Abdullah Almuqrin

Abdullah Almuqrin is assistant professor in information science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. A vice dean of the deanship of library affairs, he holds a PhD in technology specialized in information assurance from Eastern Michigan, USA. His current research interests include information systems, security, policy and privacy, and knowledge management.