Al-Abbasi, Dalal (PhD alumna)

{December 2020: Chair of Educational Leadership Masters Programme, AlHekma University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia} 

Hi, this is Dalal AL-Abbasi, Many thanks for Richard for inviting me to this impressive community. Ok, here is a brief overview of who am I. I am a Saudi woman, born and lived my whole life in Saudi. Took my bachelor degree from computer science in King Abdul-Aziz University in Jeddah/Saudi Arabia, and then worked for five years in schools and computer training centres as computer trainer and a computer teacher.

I always enjoyed teaching. While I was in school, in addition to my main role teaching ICT to students, I established  teacher training lessons in using the latest technology that was already installed in school. I also took my passion for reading by starting a book club and a school magazine with my students. I also enjoyed writing, before I came to Manchester; I had few published articles in local newspapers in Saudi that were mostly about local issues (mainly about women).

I came to Manchester in 2010, took MA in Digital Technologies for Communication and Education (DTCE), and then started a four year PhD program. I always have been interested in two main topics: Educational technology and women issues. In my PhD I tackle both areas, Saudi female teachers, and integrating technology in teaching and learning. Teachers’ experiences are the main focus of my study, I used a mind mapping tool called Ketso as a focus group facilitator. I presented posters and presentations in different conferences, for example: The Annual PGR conference 2014, UOM Interdisciplinary Symposium 2014, Doctoral conference in Bristol University and Losing Momentum Conference in Oxford University 2012.

Besides writing my PhD, I occasionally write in my personal blog talking about my experience being a PhD student and a mother living in UK.

www.dalaldiary.wordpress.com

There is another blog that me and my friend Shaohua Hong sometimes share our thoughts being friends from a complete different countries but at the same time share a very strong friendship (part of Manchester and PhD experience I guess)

https://thefortyrule.wordpress.com/

I published an article (nothing to do with my PhD) in University newspaper Mancunion last February 2015

http://mancunion.com/2015/01/19/notinmyname/