Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

1-1-2011

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Instructional Technology

First Advisor

James L. Moseley

Abstract

Internet access has grown in Saudi Arabia between 2000 and 2005 by more than 1000% and many governmental organizations are starting to provide part of their services using the internet. In addition, the Ministry of Higher Education has provided funding to all governmental universities to start developing strategies and guidelines for online education. Healthcare services in Saudi Arabia are funded by the government and are provided to all citizens free of charge. In addition, the majority of healthcare workers are expatriates. King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) is a tertiary healthcare organization that provides specialized medical care. To assure quality of medical services at KFMC, medical and administrative employees are provided with continuous staff development programs using traditional methods of education. However, online education is proven to be efficient and provides comparable outcomes to these methods.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the readiness of King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) to adopt online staff development programs. Employees access to technology, technical skills, motivation to e-learn and attitudes towards online education was assessed using The Online Learner Readiness Self-assessment Survey. In addition, instructors' and administrators' access to technology, attitudes and beliefs about online education was also investigated using The Faculty and Administrator Survey.

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