Effectiveness of E-learning in Public schools: Case of Bahrain

Abstract

Improved, modern education in developing countries provides the promise of meaningful employment for graduates, movement towards a knowledge-based economy, and rapid national economic growth. The building of the physical infrastructure as well as the knowledge infrastructure base such as teacher training, teaching materials and Internet facilities are necessary before the full benefits of the educational investments can be realized. Indeed, Bahrain has recently been leapfrogging communications technologies at a level and pace like any other country. This phenomenon of adopting e-learning technology brings hope to the possibility of schools being able to use new technologies to leapfrog over many of their problems such as a shortage of teachers, school books and low achievement levels, and to train their students in technologies and to have “21st century skills” such as creative thinking and problem solving. E-Learning may assist with this transformation. A new project has been started and is named in the patronage of the King of Bahrain, King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa. The King Hamad Schools have new technologies and ideas for teaching. This study will talk about how the project affect the quality of education in the Kingdom and the recommendations in how to develop the project further. The paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of E-learning project in Bahrain public schools in terms of staff training and engaging online learners among teachers and students. The findings of the study presents that the staff training helps to improve the teaching-learning process, and also E-learning improves students’ skills for career perspectives, as it will help students in their future life. Lastly, students do not find difficulties in using online courses and they prefer the online materials more than papers. The student nowadays like technology and enjoy their times when they use the online materials.