Academic Staff Use of Web 2.0 Tools and Factors Affecting Its Implementation at Northern Border University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

الملخص

This study aimed to identify the current level of Web 2.0 tools used by the academic staff at Northern Border University (NBU) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for their academic pursuits. It also aimed to identify the multiple barriers that stand in the way of using Web 2.0 tools, concluding with suggestions to overcome such barriers at university level. The researcher has used the qualitative method (based on interviews), comprising of interviewing 25 male and female faculty members. The findings and revelations of this study are that at present the use of Web 2.0 technology by NBU faculty members is very much limited and therefore low, except for the use of social networking sites. The results of this research study showed certain barriers which include a lack of necessary knowledge about the use of Web 2.0 in education, as well as other potential factors such as a lack of training courses, poor technical support, and lack of access to computer labs at all times. Interestingly, resistance to change is one of the main factors among the academic members. Through this study, it has been suggested that faculty members make some potential improvements through the use of Web 2.0 tools. Spreading the culture to use Web 2.0 tools in education, intensifying training courses for academic staff, and setting a clear strategy plan for the integration of technology in education at university level.