Educational change in Oman: a design research study of personal,institutional, and societal reactions to collaborative knowledge building

While collaborative problem-solving has been suggested as a solution for linking classroom learning with workforce skills, it is still not entirely clear how personal, institutional, and national factors work together to influence student and teacher acceptance of this pedagogical strategy. Oman provides an appropriate case for exploring this intersection, as previously limited technology and an instructivist education tradition bump up against the demand for rapid educational improvement and economic development. This study focused on the cultural aspects that affect adoption of a Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) environment, and how adaptations appeared in the students, the teacher, and the course. An education design research methodology was used to examine how students react to the CSCL framework and tools.