Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

ICT for an Inclusive World pp 373–389Cite as

The Challenges Faced During the Implementation of Smart Schools in Oman

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1044 Accesses

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation ((LNISO,volume 35))

Abstract

Teaching today relies a great deal on IT resources and there are many schools opting to digitize they curriculum i.e. change the traditional style to what has recently been coined as “Smart School” style, in which ICT plays a significant role. The Smart School initiative seeks to enhance education in a smarter and more innovative way using ICT. The purpose of this study is (1) to explore the challenges faced during the implementation of smart schools from the perspectives/viewpoints of the service provider, teachers and school IT administrators; and (2) to provide a set of recommendations to minimize such challenges. In order to achieve the research objectives two case studies were conducted among schools that had already started implementing the process of becoming smart schools. Both case studies included a set of interviews with schoolteachers, the people in charge of the proposed project, school IT administrators and a service provider. In addition, there were sets of classroom observations conducted in the respective schools. Study results and the examination of data analysis revealed that there are many challenges faced by the perspective parties and these challenges are discussed in some detail. The researchers then provided a set of recommendations to minimize, or indeed to overcome the challenges encountered in becoming a Smart School in Oman.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bimbola, O., Daniel, O.I.: Effect of constructivist-based teaching strategy on academic performance of students in integrated science at the junior secondary school level. Educ. Res. Rev. 5(7), 347–353 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ameen, N., Willis, R., Shah, M.H.: An examination of the gender gap in smartphone adoption and use in Arab countries: a cross-national study. Comput. Hum. Behav. 89, 148–162 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Ameen, N.A., Willis, R.: The use of mobile phones to support women’s entrepreneurship in the Arab countries. Int. J. Gender Entrepreneurship 8(4), 424–445 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Iniesta-Bonillo, M.A., Sánchez-Fernández, R., Schlesinger, W.: Investigating factors that influence on ICT usage in higher education: a descriptive analysis. Int. Rev. Public Nonprofit Mark. 10(2), 163–174 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ameen, N., Willis, R.: Towards closing the gender gap in Iraq: understanding gender differences in smartphone adoption and use. Infor. Technol. Dev. 2018, 1–26 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Maitlo, A., Ameen, N., Peikari, H.R., Shah, M.: Preventing identity theft: Identifying major barriers to knowledge-sharing in online retail organisations. Inf. Technol. People (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fu, J.S.: ICT in education: a critical literature review and its implications. Int. J. Educ. Dev. Inf. Commun. Technol. 9(1), 112 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Taleb, Z., Hassanzadeh, F.: Toward smart school: a Comparison between smart school and traditional school for mathematics learning. Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci. 171, 90–95 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Vanderlinde, R., Aesaert, K., Van Braak, J.: Institutionalised ICT use in primary education: a multilevel analysis. Comput. Educ. 72, 1–10 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Pineida, F.O.: Competencies for the 21st century: integrating ICT to life, school and economical development. Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci. 28, 54–57 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. ITA, O.: eGovernment Transformation Plan (2012). Available from http://www.ita.gov.om/ITAPortal/Pages/Page.aspx?NID=820&PID=3330&LID=163. Cited 7 October 2016

  12. e.oman.: COMEX 2013 continues with daily various activities and workshops (2013). Available from: http://www.eoman.gov.om/wps/portal/!ut/p/a1/hVDLjoJAEPyW_QDT7TD4OI7L4hM5zK7rcDG9MCJGBlQg8e93IF48qJ2-VKWqq9IQwRYiQ02WUpUVhk4tjgY7B6eI4XgecLnpI1v4njuSQzblaAXKCvDJCHz0L78DgczZ-IvxauB4Hr_7Xwje5P9C1EleNXjXQdkOwx1nX6I_-cRlKByOQvIwCP0ZQ-Qg2xvX-i_PqkldVYUBJTVd4kPLn2t9uYHSPZ3Ucfe3li0p1aC68LjIczKJjbGAkoZMrC3a0-mqocx_tnh0y2bt2k0__gEdS2Nh/dl5/d5/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS80SmlFL1o2XzMwRzAwTzlJTTRCUUQwMkoySzVTQTMyMFM0/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/EN/site/home/news/come2013. Cited 7 October 2016

  13. Choi, Y.-C., Lee, J.-H., Lee, H.-J.: Prioritizing major policy issues regarding the smart schooling system using the AHP method. Education 9(5) (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Omidinia, S., Masrom, M., Selamat, H.: Determinants of smart school system success: a case study of Malaysia. Int. J. Acad. Res. 4(1) (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  15. El-Halawany, H., Huwail, E.I.: Malaysian Smart Schools: a fruitful case study for analysis to synopsize lessons applicable to the egyptian context. Int. J. Educ. Dev. Inf. Commun. Technol. 4(2), 117–143 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Attaran, M., Alias, N., Siraj, S.: Learning culture in a smart school: a case study. Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci. 64, 417–423 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Ibrahim, M.S., Razak, A.Z.A., Kenayathulla, H.B.: Smart principals and smart schools. Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci. 103, 826–836 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ali, W.Z.W., Nor, H.M.: The Implementation of ICT Integration in Malaysian Smart Schools. InTech Open Access Publisher (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Zhu, Z.-T., Yu, M.-H., Riezebos, P.: A research framework of smart education. Smart Learn. Environ. 3(1), 1 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Spector, J.M.: Conceptualizing the emerging field of smart learning environments. Smart Learn. Environ. 1(1), 1 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sarkar, S.: The role of information and communication technology (ICT) in higher education for the 21st century. Science 1(1), 30–41 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Elsaadani, M.A.: Exploring the relationship between teaching staff age and their attitude towards information and communications technologies (ICT). Online Submission 6(1), 216–226 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  23. UNESCO.: Education and Knowledge Societies (2003). Available from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001485/148576eb.pdf. Cited 10 Oct 2016

  24. Cheung, A.C., Slavin, R.E.: The effectiveness of educational technology applications for enhancing mathematics achievement in K-12 classrooms: a meta-analysis. Educ. Res. Rev. 9, 88–113 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Garcia, I., Pacheco, C.: A constructivist computational platform to support mathematics education in elementary school. Comput. Educ. 66, 25–39 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Livingstone, S.: Critical reflections on the benefits of ICT in education. Oxford Rev. Educ. 38(1), 9–24 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Canada, G., Evelyn, C., Schmidt, E.: New York Smart Schools Commission Report (2014). Available from https://www.ny.gov/sites/ny.gov/files/atoms/files/SmartSchoolsReport.pdf. 6th January 2017

  28. Galil, T.E.A.: The Mohammed Bin Rashid’s Smart Learning Program (SLP) Initiative in the Ministry of Education and its impact on English language performance in Cycle 2 classes, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Education, U.S.O.: Smart School Technology Program (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Cabus, S.J., Haelermans, C., Franken, S.: SMART in mathematics? Exploring the effects of in‐class‐level differentiation using SMART board on math proficiency. Br. J. Educ. Technol. (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ong, E.T., Ruthven, K.: The distinctiveness and effectiveness of science teaching in the Malaysian ‘Smart school’. Res. Sci. Technol. Educ. 28(1), 25–41 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Ming, T.S., Hall, C., Azman, H., Joyes, G.: Supporting smart school teachers’ continuing professional development in and through ICT: a model for change. Int. J. Educ. Dev. Inf. Commun. Technol. 6(2), 1B (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Majeed, Z.S., Yusoff, Z.S.: Are we ‘smarter’ now? Case study of smart school implementation in a developing nation. J. Stud. Educ. 5, 236–258 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Ali, W.Z.W., Nor, H.M., Hamzah, A., Alwi, N.H.: The conditions and level of ICT integration in Malaysian Smart Schools. Int. J. Educ. Deve. ICT 5(2) (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Pourciau, E.L.: Teaching and Learning with Smart Board Technology in Middle School Classrooms (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Kler, S.: ICT Integration in Teaching and Learning: Empowerment of Education with Technology (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Kadhim, T.A.: Gauge the readiness of transformation to smart schools for Iraqi schools. Technology 6(9), 47–57 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Khan, M., Hossain, S., Hasan, M., Clement, C.K.: Barriers to the introduction of ICT into education in developing countries: the example of Bangladesh. Online Submission 5(2), 61–80 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Merriam, S.B.: Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation, vol. 3. Jossey-Bass, Somerset, US (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Saunders, M.N.K., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A.: Research Methods for Business Students, 6th edn. Financial Times Prentice Hall, Harlow, England (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Kumar, R.: Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, 3rd edn: SAGE, London (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Hyland, K.: Methods and methodologies in second language writing research. System 59, 116–125 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Kamaruddin, N.: Interface Design in Interactive Science Courseware for the Malaysian Smart School Project. Queensland University of Technology (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Cohen, L., Manion, L., Morrison, K.: Research Methods Educ. Routledge (2013)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gulf College, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Ali Al-Badi

  2. Department of Information Systems, College of Economics and Political Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Ali Tarhini & Hajer Al-Mawali

Authors
  1. Ali Al-Badi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Tarhini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hajer Al-Mawali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Tarhini .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Youcef Baghdadi

  2. Business Department, University Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France

    Antoine Harfouche

  3. Department of Economics and Business Science, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Marta Musso

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Al-Badi, A., Tarhini, A., Al-Mawali, H. (2020). The Challenges Faced During the Implementation of Smart Schools in Oman. In: Baghdadi, Y., Harfouche, A., Musso, M. (eds) ICT for an Inclusive World. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, vol 35. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34269-2_26

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation