The obstacles to using technologies in primary
schools to help students with mathematics
difficulties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Despite the potential positive effects of using technology with students who have difficulties in mathematics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the great efforts made by the Saudi Government to improve the education system of the nation, which has included a continuous rise in the educational budget, there still remain some obstacles for some teachers when using technology, and while some of these teachers overcome these barriers, others do not succeed in this the challenge. This study investigated the barriers that teachers face when using technology in their classroom in primary schools, and why some overcame obstacles while others did not. Semi-structured interviews and observations were used for the purpose of this research, which were undertaken with three mathematics teachers from school A which used technology, and the other three from school B, which did not use technology. The researcher observed each teacher 45 times separately, 45 minutes each time, over a period of three months. The three teachers in school A were observed during the first 45 days, and the other three were observed for another 45 days. The researcher found from the interviews’ responses of all six teachers and the consequent observations, that the head teacher’s support was the main reason behind their decision to overcome or not overcome the obstacles they face when using technology to help students with difficulties in mathematics. The principals of both schools played a crucial role in managing the challenges they faced with technology. This became evident when the head master of school A helped the teachers in overcoming the obstacles they faced when using technology by training teachers and through technical support, which reflected positively on teaching and learning mathematics, leading to a continued and enthusiastic use of technology. On the other hand, the head teacher in school B did not help or support his teachers in providing technology in school, nor help with overcoming the challenges they faced with technology, which reflected negatively on their enthusiasm to continue to overcome barriers such as the provision of technology in the school, and the lack of training and technical support, in spite of their beliefs that the technology has a positive impact on teaching and in the learning of students who have difficulties in mathematics. This study concludes with recommendations regarding future research in this area.