In today's technology driven societies, academic institutions, especially at the tertiary level, are incorporating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), utilizing learning management systems (LMS) and adopting blended learning approaches to improve student performance and enhance student learning. Currently a good deal of research is conducted to assess the effectiveness of such techniques and technologies on student learning and performance. A great deal of this research deals with LMS's, e-learning platforms, such as Blackboard, but not much is being conducted on LMS's provided by publishing companies, like McGraw Hill Education, whose course management systems are available for a range of courses and being used throughout the world. This paper examines the effectiveness of McGraw Hill Education's Connect on improving student grades in a pre-calculus course at a university in a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country. Using simple and multiple linear regression analysis to investigate whether there was a relationship between the Connect online assignments' grades and the total course grade of students in the course, and two independent sample t-tests to compare the grades between two pre-calculus courses (one taught using the Connect component, and the other taught in the traditional format) results show that using Connect has positive impact on student grades.

Objective: In varying degrees of severity and seriousness, evidence of academic dishonesty exists in tertiary institutions around the world. This paper examines academic misconduct in a tertiary-level institution in one of the Gulf countries to see if academic dishonesty prevails, and if so, how and why it happens. Method: To gauge students’ perceptions about academic dishonesty in this context, a survey was distributed to 111 junior, sophomore, and senior level students taking an advanced academic writing course in a private university. Results: Results show statistically significant evidence that cheating exists. Conclusions: While research on academic misconduct is extensive in Western contexts, less is documented in the Middle East and North Africa region besides conceptual papers that aim to create a general understanding of this issue and newspaper articles that discuss its prevalence. Implications for Theory and/or Practice: This paper underscores the existence of academic misconduct in the Middle East and North Africa region, identifying the need for further research and implementation of improved teaching strategies and increased attention regarding academic misconduct.

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Technology today plays a significant role in the lives of many students who are part of a technology-driven culture that they have grown up with. It would seem unimaginable for young adults today to communicate or exchange ideas without using technology. The plethora of devices competing with the computer, from smartphones to tablets, just to name a few, have provided students with the ability to communicate and get information with unprecedented accessibility and speed. Because visual culture, youth culture, and digital media go hand in hand today, it is only logical that classrooms move beyond the traditional methods of teaching, which no longer seem compatible with student expectations or the needs of today's workforce, and utilize this passion for technology. Fully incorporating technology in the classroom is inevitable, and utilizing students' passion for technology can act as a catalyst for motivating them to work. This article presents the benefits of utilizing the iPad in the ESL classroom, showing how lessons can become more effective, paving the way for more motivating and engaging English language learning. It also provides information which guides ESL teachers in choosing appropriate apps for transformative lessons and information on apps that have been used in ESL classrooms.

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