HOW DO EAST JERUSALEM HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS PERCEIVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS' ROLE IN INTEGRATING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR MATHEMATICAL LEARNING AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE? A MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Abstract

The study is about East Jerusalem students and how they think about technology in their schools. Technology is important for East Jerusalem students to learn math. This study examines how students from East Jerusalem studying mathematics at university view the role of their school leaders in using digital technologies to help them learn math more effectively and do well in school. The study asked 29 students to fill out a questionnaire and held in-depth conversations with 12 of them. The questionnaire responses were analyzed using a computer program, and the conversations were analyzed to identify common themes. The results showed that the students had limited access to technology and used it regularly. The students said they had the most graphing calculators. They did not have much adaptive learning software. The school leaders were somewhat supportive of using technology. There was a big difference between what they said and what they actually did. Technology had two effects on the students: it helped them see things better and get feedback, but it also made them less good at doing math in their heads when they relied on it too much. The biggest problems the students had were that the technology did not work, the internet was slow, and their teachers did not know how to use it well. The students were sometimes better at using technology than their teachers. The skills they learned in school helped them feel more confident when they got to college and had to take math classes. The students thought that schools should invest in training teachers to listen to what students have to say, ensure students have a place to learn, and help students prepare for college. This study helps us understand how school leaders can use technology to support student learning in East Jerusalem. It gives school leaders, education policymakers, and teachers practical ideas to consider. Using technology effectively is not just about having the right equipment but also about training teachers, ensuring leaders support their use, and ensuring that what students learn in high school prepares them for college. East Jerusalem students need school leaders who understand how to use technology to help them learn math better.