The challenges of learning and multi-dimensional technologies within Saudi students at the University of Florida

摘要

Due to the gap caused by the unfamiliar participatory practices in terms of understanding, implementing, and using learning technologies, international students coming to study in the United States from traditional environments of learning may face some sort of technological challenges. This paper describes 5 semester-long study to explore the challenges of learning technologies within the Saudi students enrolled at the English Language Institute, University of Florida (UFL) in the United States. A total of 388 Saudi students (244 males and 144 females) taking extensive English language courses for postgraduate study participated in the study. Learning technology challenges are quantified by using a 15-item questionnaire based on review of literature focusing on learning technologies. To assess differences between what male and female students reported about learning technologies, the study used mixed effects analysis of average frequency percentage.