eLearning Ecosystem Project 2015
The eBook Project
CCD eBook Project
On the First hand, the CCD eBook Project has been initiated to financially support the Community College students, who do not get any remuneration compared to other Saudi University students. On the second hand, the project aspires to improve students’ academic achievement via supporting the virtual learning platform (blackboard) with authentic educational materials that are freely provided by Saudi Digital Library (SDL) and the University of Dammam. During the project phases, we thought that this project would be a “Deferred Dream” which will never come true due to the publishers’ endless prerequisites and the lack of relevant undergraduate textbooks, as more than 310 thousand ebooks were available online yet most of them were targeting graduates and researchers. Miraculously, the faculty complaints on the inappropriateness of the learning outcomes and the specification of the courses have “awakened the phoenix again,” and necessitated the assignment of a scientific committee to revise the textbooks of the diploma plan at the Computing Department, who found out that 73% of the current paper textbooks do not align with the learning outcomes. Enthusiastically, what we have started as an eLearning initiative turned out to be an ecosystem development in ensuring to achieve the required results. The college assigned a committee that included assistants and associate professors as well as vice deans and the department chair. They have participated in the first and second phase of filtration using statistical scientific studies. After a number of meetings and extensive reviews of accessible paper and e-books, the committee concluded that only 23% of the textbooks are accessible online; but they are not even benchmarked to what is internationally recognized. As a result,
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our dreams and efforts were motivated into the eBook project third phase to specify the optimum textbooks, that might hopefully improve the learning outcomes of the diploma plan & nurture the learning community and support the virtual learning platform in (Computer Science, Information Technology, and Information Systems). After a number of meetings and extensive reviews of accessible paper and ebooks, the committee concluded that 55% of the proposed textbooks are available in digital form throughout the University of Dammam eLibrary and the Saudi Digital Library; whereas 76% of the proposed books are also available in hard copies inside the College library and the Central library. The project has proved the significance of the periodical assessment of the course specifications in ensuring the quality of the educational system. We cannot express our gratitude enough to the tremendous support of his Excellency the president of the UoD Professor Abdullah AlRubaish, the vice-presidents, and the Deanship of library affairs. The Community College in Dammam initiative is meant to be a step into a knowledge- based economy that would also be evaluated by our stakeholders in the workforce field represented by Saudi Aramco; as part of the strategic memorandum of understanding between Saudi Aramco and the University of Dammam. We are aware of the amount of time and energy this project demanded, and we certainly appreciate all efforts yet we deeply believe that the phoenix will keep arising.
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The Committee CCD eBook Project:
1. Dr.Muneerah AlMahasheer
Project Head
2. Dr.Nawal AlMalki
Deputy
3. Dr.Horia AlOtaibi
Member
4. Dr. Abeer AlDossay
Member
5. Dr. Manal AlOhali
Member
6. Dr.Ahmad AlHarbi
Member of the scientific committee
7. Dr.Ziyad AlFwaeer
Member of the scientific committee
8. Dr.Lobna Amoori
Member of the scientific committee
9. Ms.Neda'a Bakshan
Project Coordinator (Computer Department)
10. Ms.Latifa AlAraifi
Member (Graphic Designer)
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Project Phases:
Phase I (Paper books) Phase I focuses on piloting a detailed study to revise the availability and status of the curriculum textbooks within the UoD Libraries, and the bookshops for the tracks and the levels of the Computing Department. Data were collected within three weeks.
Results of Phase I (Paper books) 1- Most of the books used in teaching are out of date and 73% lack compatibility with the course specification of the program. 2- 57 % of the books are available at the University library. 3- 37% of books are available at local bookshops. Therefore, the committee recommended to start data collecting of phase II
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All Levels Summary - Phase1 (Paper Copy)
No. of Book
In CCD
Not Not IN in Not in in in UOD Bookstore Bookstore CCD UOD
No. of Suitable book
No. of nonsuitable
CCD (All Levels - Phase 1)
In CCD
37% 63%
30
19
11
15
15
9
21
8
Not in CCD
22
UOD (All Levels - Phase 1)
50%
50%
IN UOD Not in UOD
Statistical Studies for Books in Level (4): paper books availability in different resources. 35 30 No. of Book
Bookstore (All Levels - Phase 1)
25
In CCD
20
Not in CCD
30%
in Bookstore Not in Bookstore
70%
15
IN UOD Not in UOD
10
in Bookstore
5
Not in Bookstore
0
Suitable vs Non-Suitable (All Levels - Phase 1)
No. of Suitablebook No. of non-suitable
27% 73%
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No. of Suitablebook No. of non-suitable
(Paper Copy) - All Resources
No. of book
paper
paper - non available
30
25
5
35 30 25
Availablity for Paper Copy (All levels): CCD+UOD+Bookstore without repetition
20
No. of book paper
15
paper - non available
17%
10
paper 83%
5 0 paper - non available
paper
No. of book
8
paper - non available
Phase II Phase II includes a detailed study of the available books as an electronic version throughout the university website, or in the Saudi Digital Library for level one, two, three and four for all the courses. Data were collected within one week.
Results of Phase II (eBooks) 1- Still most of the books used in teaching are out of date and 73% lack compatibility with the course specification of the program. 2- Only 23 % of the books are accessible as eBooks
Accordingly, it has become necessary to look for modern, suitable, and electronically available books. Upon that, the committee recommended to start phase III
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All Levels Summary - Phase 2 (Digital Copy)
No. of Book
In UOD
Not in UOD
In SDL
Not in SDL
Digital (UOD+SDL)
not digital
30
8
22
10
20
11
19
100
26.66667
73.3333
33.33333
66.6667
36.6667
63.3333
Statisical Studies for Digital Books in All Levels: E-books availability in UOD and SDL 35 30 25 No. of Book 20
In UOD Not in UOD
15
In SDL Not in SDL
10
Digital (UOD+SDL)
5 0 Digital (UOD+SDL)
Not in SDL
In SDL
11
Not in UOD
In UOD
No. of Book
UOD (All Levels - Phase 2)
27%
In UOD
Not in UOD 73%
Availablity for E-Books (All levels - Phase 2): UOD+SDL without repetition
37% 63%
SDL: (All Levels - Phase 2)
33%
In SDL Not in SDL
67%
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Digital (UOD+SDL) not digital
Phase III This phase includes a detailed study to update the available textbooks in the curriculum- considering its convenience and appropriateness to students. The study measures the availability of books whether electronically, or hard copies in the university library, college or book stores in Dammam for level one, two, three, and four, and for all the courses included in the Computing Department curriculum, and all the different tracks. Data were collected within two weeks.
Results of Phase III 1- After the research and analysis, the committee found out that 55% of the suggested books are available electronically at the digital library of the university or at the Saudi Digital Library. 2- 71% of the suggested books are available as print out at the university library.
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All Levels Summary - Phase 3
C: Alternative & Suitable Books
Phase 3 Paper Copy
Old Ver.
New Ver.
Digital Copy
Old Ver.
New Ver.
CCD
UOD
CCD
UOD
UOD
SDL
UOD
SDL
8
0
1
4
5
0
0
1
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
10
0
2
4
5
0
0
2
3
100%
110%
50%
7
5
70%
50%
8
0
0
3
5
0
1
1
4
11
0
0
7
6
1
1
5
4
19
0
0
10
11
1
2
6
8
95%
111%
89%
15
11
79%
58%
76%
55%
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All Levels Summary - Phase 3 (Digital Copy)
No. of Book
30 100
In CCD
IN Not UOD in (paper) UOD
Not in CCD
14
16
46.66667 53.3333
In Not UOD in In SDL (EUOD books)
18
12
9
21
60
40
30
70
CCD: All Levels - Phase 3
Not in SDL
36%
In CCD 64%
13
Not in CCD
17
43.3333 56.6667 SDL: All Levels - Phase 3
55%
45%
In SDL Not in SDL
Statistical Studies for Books (All Levels) - Phase 3: paper & digital books availability in different resources. 35 30
UOD (Paper): All Levels - Phase 3
25
No. of Book 30
IN UOD (paper)
45%
In CCD 14
55%
20
Not in CCD 16
Not in UOD
IN UOD (paper) 18 15
Not in UOD 12 In UOD (E-books) 9
10
Not in UOD 21 In SDL 13
5
Not in SDL 17
0 17 Not in SDL
13 In SDL
21
9
12
Not in In UOD (E- Not in UOD books) UOD
18
16
14
30
IN UOD (paper)
Not in CCD
In CCD
No. of Book
UOD: Digital: All Levels - Phase 3
In UOD (E-books)
45% 55%
17
Not in UOD
(Paper Copy vs Digital Copy) - All Resousces
No. of book
paper
paper - non available
Digital
Digital - non available
29
22
7
16
13
Availablity for Paper Copy & Digital Copy (All levels - Phase 3): without repetition
35
30 No. of book
25
paper
20
paper - non available
15 10
Digital
5
Digital - non available
0 Digital - non available
Total no. of available E-books (All levels - Phase 3) without repetition 45%
Digital
paper - non available
No. of book
Total no. of available Paper books (All levels - Phase 3) without repetition 24%
Digital
55%
paper
paper
76%
Digital - non
18
paper - non
19
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Final Results
The study revealed the following: 1.
The ebooks in both the university library and the Saudi Digital Library represent 55%.
2.
The paper books in both the university library and the college library represent 76%
3.
Available printed copies of books for the first semester (level 1+3) represent 70%.
4.
Available printed copies of books for the second semester ( level 2+4) represent 79%.
5.
Available digital books for the first semester ( level 1+3) represent 50%.
6.
Available digital books for the second semester ( level 2+4) represent 58%.
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Conclusion
To conclude, the percentage of e-books availability increased from 37% to 55% after revising the textbooks in the current study plan by the scientific committee in the third phase. Hence, the e-book project has proved to have a vital role in ensuring the quality of the academic programs, there is no question that this project has achieved its purpose which is to enhance the college ecosystem and support the learning community via freely using the authenticated scientific materials.
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وﻛﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﺸـﺆون ا دارﻳـﺔ واﻟﻤﺎﻟﻴــﺔ Vice Dean of Community College in Dammam
ﻗــﺴــﻢ اﻟﺤـــﺎﺳـﺐ ا ﻟـــﻲ