Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL Number 7. July 2021                       Pp.113-125
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call7.8

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             Information and Communication Technologies in A Postgraduate
TESOL Program: A Human Capital Investment
 

Manal AlMarwani
Department of Curricula and Instruction, School of Education
Taibah University, Saudi Arabia
Email: almarwani.manal@gmail.com

 

 Received: 3/1/2021                Accepted: 6/14/2021               Published: 7/26/2021  

Abstract:
With the global advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the national and international demand for well-developed ICT skills and competencies, academic programs at higher education institutions need to make necessary adjustments to content and processes. This study reports on the current ICT integration practices in a TESOL postgraduate program at a Saudi Arabian university, addressing viewpoints at administrative, faculty, and postgraduate student levels. Three different questionnaires were used to answer the following questions: What are the TESOL postgraduate students’ practices of ICT integration, and how do they perceive their professors’ practices? What ICT integration practices do faculty members use, and how do they perceive the merit and desirability of their practices? And ‘How is ICT integration tackled at the administrative level with respect to policy and procedures, infrastructure, training, and technical support? The findings indicate that ICT integration practices in this program are lagging expectations. This is not a matter of attitude, potential, and challenges in the current situation, but is related to understanding the national ICT policy and developing sustainable strategies at an institutional level to guide and support faculty members’ practices. Since the impact of such changes will go beyond higher education to the broader national education system, much more attention needs to be dedicated to teacher education and professional development programs, including TESOL postgraduate programs.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), educational policy, postgraduate TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program, Saudi Arabia 

Cite as: AlMarwani, M. (2021).  Information and Communication Technologies in A Postgraduate TESOL Program: A Human Capital Investment.
Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on CALL (7)113-125.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call7.8

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Received: 3/1/2021   
Accepted: 6/14/2021 
Published: 7/26/2021 
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0844-4485
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/call7.8 

Dr. Manal AlMarwani is an assistant professor at Taibah University specialising in Educational Research and Development, with a focus on mobile learning, e-learning and ICT. Combines expertise in English education with a commitment to on-going development, including accreditation as a Prince2 Project Management Practitioner. Keen to share expertise and contribute to international educational projects.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0844-4485