Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Exploring Challenges and Issues Faced by Faculty Members in Utilizing Blackboard within Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (An Empirical Study of King Saud University)(LIMERICK UNIVERSITY, 2024) Alqahtani, Mohammed; Murray, LiamThis study addresses a crucial issue pertaining to the influence of the design and user interface of a learning management systems (LMSs), known as Blackboard, on the pedagogical performance of faculty members at King Saud University in terms of their employed teaching methods. The study considers system design and user interface as independent variables, while teaching methods are regarded as the dependent variable. The research aims to provide answers to the following specific inquiries: - How do faculty members at Saudi universities perceive Blackboard as a digital platform that replaces traditional teaching methods? - How do faculty members at Saudi universities critically evaluate the design of the Blackboard system? - How do faculty members at Saudi universities critically evaluate the user interface of the Blackboard system? Due to the intricate nature of human-computer interactions, interview alone may not offer sufficient information. Consequently, the researcher adopted mixed methodology research techniques, which involved conducting interviews with five teachers from the targeted institution and gathering 77 teacher responses through online questionnaires. The study received approximately 212 responses to the three open-ended questions on the survey which was distributed with the questionnaire. The data collected from both interviews and surveys facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the system design and user interface of each LMS in relation to the employed teaching methods. The findings of the study underscore the substantial impact of LMS designs on system effectiveness and provide evidence of how variations in system design influence the overall user experience. The conclusions assert that the Blackboard system, particularly at the University of King Saud, significantly contributes to the educational process by enhancing both learning and teaching. The researcher conducted interviews with five teachers who utilized the Blackboard system during the coronavirus pandemic. The data were tabulated using NVivo software, which is regarded as being one of the most effective programs for analyzing text-based data as it has the ability to enhance the qualitative research process by expediting the analysis of textual data, which would otherwise be done manually. In conclusion, the recommendations include prioritizing multilingual support, implementing thorough training for instructors, ensuring prompt system updates and technical support, expanding language alternatives, and establishing a user feedback mechanism within Blackboard. Moreover, there is a call for a longitudinal study on LMS roles beyond the pandemic. This emphasizes the importance of researching how adaptable LMS is to evolve educational requirements and assessing its support for diverse learning methods over time.2 0Item Restricted Exploring Saudi Arabian Teachers' Perceptions of Smartboard Instruction for Students with Communication Disorders(University of South Florida, 2024-09-23) Alqahtani, Mohammed; Cranston-Gingras, AnnUsing smartboards with students with communication needs in the classroom is one way to apply technology in educational settings. Research has shown the benefits of using the smartboard with students with disabilities (SWDs) and second-language learners. There is still a need to understand further teachers’ perceptions towards using the smartboard in their classrooms with students with communication needs. Therefore, I conducted an exploratory qualitative study to explore Saudi teachers' perceptions regarding the use of smartboards with students with communication needs in the classroom. I collected data via in-depth interviews, smartboard screen recordings, and audio recordings of teachers’ lessons taught using the smartboard. I analyzed data using reflexive thematic analysis. My discoveries were: 1) Teachers' extensive use of smartboards, 2) Teachers' positive perceptions about the benefits of smartboards, 3) Teachers' perceptions regarding practical and technical issues using smartboards, and 4) Teachers' perceptions about the need for training and professional development in smartboard use. The implications of my study include a need for further research to better understand teachers’ perceptions regarding the use of the smartboard in the classroom with students with particular communication needs, as well as a need to provide more training for preservice and in-service teachers to use smartboards in their classrooms with students with communication needs.12 0Item Restricted ACCM-SME: A New Theoretical Framework for Adopting Cloud Computing Model for Small and Medium Enterprises in Saudi Arabia(University of Sussex, 2024-08) Alqahtani, Mohammed; Beloff, NataliaBackground: Cloud computing technology is widely adopted by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developed countries. However, many SMEs in developing countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, still rely on conventional technology like onpremises servers. With the Saudi government's Vision 2030 initiative launched in 2016, significant technological, cultural and economic transformations are anticipated by 2030. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the factors impacting Saudi SMEs' adoption of cloud computing services to leverage the benefits of Vision 2030 programmes. Aims and Objectives: This thesis aims to investigate the intention of Saudi SMEs to adopt cloud computing services from the perspectives of employees, IT managers and top managers. The objectives of this study are to review the current literature to explore the barriers and challenges that influence Saudi SMEs' adoption of cloud computing services, identify the most influential factors that impact the adoption of cloud computing services and validate an appropriate conceptual framework for understanding Saudi SMEs' adoption of cloud computing services. Therefore, a new theoretical framework, Adoption of the Cloud Computing Model by Saudi SMEs (ACCM-SME), was developed to evaluate the potential influence of 17 factors from four different constructs: technological, environmental, organisational and social contexts. Methods: This thesis employs a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews) methods. The questionnaires gathered data from 412 Saudi SME employees in Riyadh city and conducted a statistical analysis. Before further analysis, the validity and reliability of the instrument used were assessed using SPSS software. Then, a hypothesis analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) through AMOS software. After that, the next stage was conducting the semi-structured interviews and collecting data from 15 IT managers and top managers and analysing them thematically. The results from both stages were integrated to understand the factors affecting cloud computing adoption and to provide recommendations for enhancing the adoption process. Results: The findings revealed that while cloud computing adoption in Saudi Arabia is still in its early stages, there is a growing trend toward broader adoption. The study identified key factors influencing cloud adoption by Saudi SMEs using a new framework (ACCM-SME) built on the TOE Framework and DOI theory. The ACCM-SME incorporates technological, organisational, environmental and social (user behaviour) factors. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis confirmed these factors' importance, as 12 out of 17 hypotheses have been accepted. Conclusion: These insights highlight the factors influencing this process and can help cloud providers enhance their services and strategies. Policymakers and business leaders can also use these findings to formulate strategies that facilitate cloud adoption among Saudi SMEs. In summary, this thesis significantly contributes to existing knowledge of cloud computing adoption among Saudi SMEs.8 0Item Restricted Design and rapid prototyping of orthopaedic device for lower limb fractures(The University of Manchester, 2024-05-31) Alqahtani, Mohammed; Bartolo, PauloBone fractures are a prevalent occurrence on a daily basis, posing significant challenges to healthcare systems in terms of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, and medication requirements. These fractures primarily result from either pathological conditions or highenergy trauma, including incidents such as car accidents, falls, and natural disasters. The treatment of bone fractures necessitates the use of bone fixation devices, which can be either internal or external, to provide stability to the injury, promote bone healing, and enable the patient to regain full functionality. The current designs of fixation devices, along with the materials utilised in their manufacturing, lead to fixators that are excessively heavy, lack comfort and lack of customisation to meet the unique requirements of individual patients. These concerns highlight the necessity of continued progress in the development of fixation devices to achieve improved and personalised medical treatments, with the aim of enhancing clinical outcomes and reducing costs. Therefore, the aim of this research project is to overcome the identified limitations by developing an innovative, customised, and optimised bone fixation system that is both costeffective and lightweight, while ensuring its structural integrity through the utilisation of topology optimisation, polymeric material and additive manufacturing. The bone fixation systems were successfully optimised, taking into consideration various loading conditions and mass reduction values. Fused deposition modelling additive manufacturing was employed to fabricate the optimised models. Subsequently, the bone fixation systems underwent numerical and mechanical evaluation and validation. The results indicate that an increase in mass reduction leads to higher stress and displacement, which can be attributed to material removal. Furthermore, it was observed that these optimised systems possess adequate mechanical characteristics, as evidenced by the IFM falling within the acceptable range and the stresses generated in the system remaining below the yield strength. This demonstrates the potential of utilising polymeric materials and topology optimisation in the development of bone fixation devices. This research presents a novel approach involving the use of polymeric materials and topology optimisation to create custom fixation devices tailored to individual patient anatomy. This is the first type of fixation that could represent a potential alternative to the existing conventional fixations, offering promising prospects.Item Restricted Comparative Analysis of User Responses to Phishing: Emails vs Mobile Instant Messaging Apps(University of the West of England, 2024-06-20) Alqahtani, Mohammed; Gorine, AdamAs phishing gets more sophisticated and multiple tactics are employed across various communication mediums, analysing users’ responses becomes increasingly essential. The extensive literature review indicates that most studies focus on a single medium across different communication platforms, necessitating additional effort. This research paper compares users’ responses to phishing attacks via two major communication platforms: Email and Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) Apps. Understanding how users recognise and respond to phishing incidents is crucial for improving cybersecurity measures. A structured survey was conducted to investigate multiple dimensions of user interaction with phishing, such as self-reported confidence in phishing identification, frequency of phishing experiences, reliance on specific features for identification, and actions taken in response to suspected phishing attempts. The results reveal several key insights: 1) the study identifies the demographics of users most vulnerable to phishing attacks; 2) it highlights the similarities and differences in what prevents phishing messages from targeting the inbox and app interception; The study also offers recommendations to enhance users’ willingness and capability to withstand phishing attacks, including targeted educational campaigns, more convenient reporting options, and changes in the design of digital communication platforms.Item Restricted Zipporah Overseas Market Research(Saudi Digital Library, 2023) Alqahtani, Mohammed; Mostert, AndreConsulting research for the company's international expansion.11 0