Journal
ELECTRONICS
Volume 11, Issue 5, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/electronics11050694
Keywords
faculty engagement; students' engagement; higher education; Saudi Arabia; computer science
Categories
Funding
- Deanship of Scientific Research at Najran University under National Research Priorities [NU/NRP/SERC/11/16]
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Research on faculty engagement in computer science and e-learning environments is limited. Reports indicate that low faculty engagement can lead to negative outcomes for students, such as switching majors or dropout. The current shift to e-learning during the pandemic has further reduced interactivity. This study, conducted in a Saudi Arabian university, empirically documents the low levels of computer science faculty engagement and emphasizes the importance of training for online instruction.
Research on faculty engagement in computer science and e-learning environments is limited. Students in computer science majors and courses often cite the lack of engagement of their faculty as a reason for their decision to switch majors, drop out or perform poorly. With the shift to e-learning associated with the current global pandemic, reports of faculty engagement across countries and higher education systems converged to indicate a reduced level of interactivity. Using a cross-sectional sample of 39 lecturers and professors from a southern public university in Saudi Arabia, this manuscript documents empirically the low levels of computer science faculty engagement during the 2020 spring semester (March-May). The study found support for the hypotheses linking higher levels of empathetic instruction, an exhibition of exemplary performance traits, utilization of community building strategies and use of storytelling and students' engagement. The study also found that many faculties need immediate and significant training on making their online instruction more interactive and exciting. Theoretically, the evidence presented confirms the importance of faculty engagement as the main predictor of desirable students' outcomes across e-learning, as well as computer science learning environments.
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