IMPACT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON TEACHING AND TRAINING: A QUALITATIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Communication of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Ziad I. Akir June 2006 This dissertation entitled IMPACT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON TEACHING AND TRAINING: A QUALITATIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW by ZIAD I. AKIR has been approved for the School of Telecommunications and the College of Communication by Don Flournoy Professor of Telecommunication Gregory J. Shepherd Dean, College of Communication AKIR, ZIAD I., PH.D., June 2006, Mass Communication IMPACT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ON TEACHING AND TRAINING: A QUALITATIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW (233 pp.) Director of Dissertation: Don Flournoy This dissertation investigates information and communication technology (ICT) systems and their applications and use in teaching and training in universities and corporations. The aim is to identify and map studies that might shed light on the impact of ICT systems on teaching and training, and to undertake an in-depth analysis of the identified literature. The context of the study is the growing prevalence of information and communication technology (ICT) use in academic and corporate training. Although there has been considerable research in this area, several issues still require further investigation. A closer look reveals that corporations have been focusing on technology without giving much attention to pedagogical issues of learning. This is in contrast to universities where attention is usually given to learning pedagogy without realizing the full power of ICT in enhancing and even re-creating teaching and learning practices. Moreover, managing technological change in organizations is a challenging issue that requires further research in both academic and corporate settings. A qualitative systematic review has been conducted to develop a framework for the integration of ICTs into teaching and training in universities and corporations. Understanding technological innovations, coupled with understanding of educational principles and organizational challenges, should lead to new applications of technology that will transform the process of teaching and training. The research method used is replicable as times goes by so the study is scalable as new technologies appear and pedagogical principles adopted. Approved: Don Flournoy Professor of Telecommunication ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Above all, I would like to thank God Almighty, Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, for the guidance, compassion, and mercy which He has bestowed upon me throughout my entire life and in particular while working on this dissertation. My journey in life brought me to Ohio University as a young engineering student in 1984. Since then, Athens and Ohio University have become part of my life. Not only that Ohio University gave me all my academic higher education, but it also gave me my beloved Indonesian wife, Rinalda. My greatest debt goes to Dr. Don Flournoy, my dissertation advisor and my warm hearted father. He, and his wife Mary Ann, have been our parents as we were away from our parents, and their house and lovely farm have been our home away from home. Don and Mary Ann are the most fabulous educators and mentors I have ever met. I also would like to extend my appreciation to my mentor Dr. Ann Kovalchick who despite her difficult times after Hurricane Katrina, remained committed and enthusiastic about my work and stayed with me till the end. Dr. Anita James and Dr. Thom Luce were also two unique educators who coached me and always believed in me and my abilities to achieve my goals. I really can not find words to thank the main force behind me and behind all my achievements: my lovely wife Rinalda whose endless support, help, and encouragement brings me to the level I have reached today. The support and encouragement of our families in Palestine and Indonesia have been also a main fuel that kept me going and determined to reach my goals and always make them proud of me. Special thanks goes to my friends Munjed Kara-Hamoud, Abdul Majeed Al- Ghamidi, Jameel Al-Humaid, Bassem Majali, Faisal Abdul Fattah, Ali Al-Shomrani, Nadim Ayche, Mansour Al-Odwan, Talal Al-Odwan, Ahmad Al-Ahmadi, Adel Al- Ahmadi, and all my beloved brothers and sisters in the Athens Muslim community who have always showered me and my wife with their companionship, and provided us with the comfort of an extended family atmosphere. 7 TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT................................................................................................ 5 LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... 10 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION........................................................................... 12 1.1 Statement of Problem .........................................................................................................................12 1.2 Objectives and Significance of the Study...........................................................................................13 1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................................................15 1.4 Basic Assumptions .............................................................................................................................16 1.5 Definition of Terms ............................................................................................................................17 1.6 Limitations..........................................................................................................................................18 1.8 Organization of the Dissertation.........................................................................................................19 CHAPTER TWO: RESEARCH FRAMEWORK....................................................... 21 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................21 2.2 Theories of Media Use .......................................................................................................................23 2.3 Approaches to ICT-Based Education .................................................................................................26 2.4 Diffusion of Innovations.....................................................................................................................34 2.5 Learning in Organizations ..................................................................................................................45 2.6 Technology and Organizational Culture.............................................................................................47 2.7 Summary ............................................................................................................................................51 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................. 53 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................53 3.2 Systematic Reviews............................................................................................................................54 3.3 Document Analysis ............................................................................................................................60 3.4 The Researcher ...................................................................................................................................61 3.5 Data Collection...................................................................................................................................62 3.6 Procedures of Data Collection............................................................................................................63 3.7 Data Extraction and Analysis .............................................................................................................66 8 3.8 Summary ............................................................................................................................................67 CHAPTER FOUR: PRILIMINARY FINDINGS........................................................ 68 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................68 4.2 Analysis of the Qualitative Data.........................................................................................................70 4.3 Data Classification Framework ..........................................................................................................76 4.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................................80 CHAPTER FIVE: TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS ......................................................... 81 5.1 Hypermedia Systems ..........................................................................................................................81 5.1.1