The Effectiveness of a Training program Based on Virtual Classes to Develop Kindergarten Teachers' Awareness of Developmental Learning Difficulties

The objective of this research is to measure the effectiveness of a training program based on virtual classes to develop kindergarten teachers' awareness of developmental learning difficulties. The research followed the semi-experimental method and was designed to be based on one experimental group. The research sample consisted of 25 teachers from the Royal Commission Kindergartens in Jubail Industrial City, who were chosen using the simple random method. To achieve the goal of the research, a questionnaire was developed to measure the level of awareness of kindergarten teachers about developmental learning difficulties, and it was applied before to the training program, post the training program, and following a significant period after the training program on the research sample members. The training program was offered to them and it consisted of 8 training sessions. The results revealed the effectiveness of the training program based on virtual classes to develop kindergarten teachers' awareness of developmental learning difficulties. These results demonstrated statistically significant differences between the average scores of the experimental group in the questionnaire of measuring awareness; these differences were between the pre and post-measurement in favor of the post measurement. The results also showed statistically significant differences between the average scores of the experimental group in the post-measurement questionnaire and the following-measurement questionnaire in favor of the post-measurement questionnaire.
Considering these results, the research offered the following suggestions and recommendations: the necessity of hiring a specialized learning difficulties teacher and a psychologist in kindergartens to provide the needed support for children at risk of undergoing learning difficulties and kindergarten teachers. These specialists would advise, help, and guide kindergarten teachers to the right way of handling and dealing with children suffering from learning difficulties. Moreover, the importance of providing on-duty training courses and workshops for kindergarten teachers to provide recent knowledge in the field of learning difficulties and early intervention programs.