A study to understand the impact of

technology in the educational

institutions in UAE
1. Introduction

Population that is technology literate , means individuals can make use of technology in quite
meaningful way for engaging in professional , social as well as civic life is considered to be an
essential goal in case of first world nations [ CITATION Ali18 \l 1033 ]. Thus the role played by
Internet in education is increasing, as it provides instant access to the information available. Thus
the traditional learning along with the process of teaching are also changing due to huge amount
of technological advancements

1.1 Background of the Problem

In several classrooms across the colleges as well as universities the students are seen bringing
along their gadgets like laptops or mobile phones which affect their learning process. The UAE’s
education landscape has undergone a drastic change from the rustic schools having minimal
infrastructure to gaining technologically advanced classrooms that are fitted with smart boards
[ CITATION edT17 \l 1033 ].Since 90’s the educational institutes all across the UAE have
evolved in order to suit the needs of the highly competitive job markets . The Ministry of
Education ( MoE) in UAE has developed an Education 2020 strategy that is a continuous series
of five year plans in order to make significant and qualitative improvements in the education
system mainly in the way the teachers teach and the students learn [ CITATION Gok18 \l
1033 ] . There are various kinds of tools that support learning as a crucial part of technological
advancement which offer the educators a wide range of possibilities for example blended and
flipped learning. While some of the students use the technology and other gadgets in the
classroom for information-related purpose to enhance learning process. Some others use it for
communicating with friends or families with the help of social applications like Facebook etc.
Technology along with the virtual world is now becoming a part of the lives of the students to
such a point that it is becoming impossible to live without technological devices (Tamim 2013).
Therefore the interest of this generation needs to be invested in right manner by utilising
technology in the form of learning tools for gaining knowledge except for the books, or teachers
or some other resources (Ali 2013).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Students using various technologies based gadgets or technologically based interactive learning
impacts the learning as well as teaching during the classroom environments. Rather in the
universities it is turning out to be a fashion or a culture to use mobile phones or some other
gadgets. Most of the students use mobile applications while learning or during the process of
teaching. Even the government of UAE has been investing large amount of funds for developing
education and have designated ICT in the field of education as a national priority [ CITATION
McV05 \l 1033 ] . Therefore the private as well as public educational institutes across the UAE
have been adopting strategies that aim at providing personal laptops to the students so as to
assist them in enhancing the exudation quality along with preparing the UAE-based students
for the modern life demands [ CITATION Min00 \l 1033 ] . The research evidence related to
learning along with academic benefits for the students by using laptops / computer have
delivered mixed results where some studies suggest that there are positive learning gains along
with academic achievements when the students use technology or laptops [ CITATION
Low03 \l 1033 ] , while some studies have suggested serious and negative impacts on student
learning mainly the reason being it acts as a distractor [ CITATION Mel05 \l 1033 ] . So the
technology used in educational institutes for example laptops is being perceived as a tool that
plays the role of helping the teachers and the students in the process of teaching as well as
learning in the context of educational establishment needs to be compared with the negative
impacts of technology on the teaching and learning aspects of the students within the
institutions . Thus this study will be studying the impact of technology in relation to the
educational institutes across the UAE.

1.3 Research Questions, Aims and Objectives

The study will be investigating the following research questions:

 How do the students and teachers view the integration of technology in the educational
institutions in the UAE?
 What are the positive impacts of integration of technology within the educations
institutes in UAE?
  What are the negative impacts of integration of technology within the educational
institutes in UAE?

Therefore, this study has been designed to understand the impact of technology in relation to the
educational institutions in the UAE along with knowing the experiences of students and teachers
about using technology like laptops within the classroom. Thus this study will be investigating
the following research objectives:

 To critically analyse the use of information technology as well as its application in the
educational institutions in the UAE.
 To investigate the impact of information technology being used in the classrooms on the
behaviour of students.
 To investigate various new teaching methodologies which help in creating a balance
between learning and the process of teaching by using information technology?

2. Study Design

The design of this study will be descriptive research design which is systematic scientific
analysis along with interpretation for describing specific problem. Quantitative research is the
method of study in which numerical data is being collected for describing, explaining or
predicting certain phenomenon (Gay, Mills and AIrasian). In this study the researcher will be
using quantitative approach for describing the perspective of the students of the college about
integration of technology in the educational institutions in UAE.

2.1 Study Population and Sampling

The population of study chosen is the college students of the Higher Colleges fo technology and
AL Ghurair Univeristy. The total number fo particpants that have been chosen for study will be
100 students form each college. The population has been limited to Dubai Colleges only beasceu
it will be very much time consuming to cover all the colleges within limited time and resources.
For conducting this study. The study will be using conveininet sampling because it is a non-
rpobaility sampling technique in which the smaples are ebing chosne because they are easily
accessible for the researcvher ( Ross 2005).

2.2 Data Collection Methods and Instrument

The method fo data collection that has been chosen is survey . For coellection fo primary data a
research questionnaire will be developed and distributed between the students at the university .
The partcipantsin the stidy will eb contacted through email and will be informed about this
study and then theywill be invited to fill this questionnaire. This survey questionnaire will be
avaialable online through Survey Monkey and the web link to the questionnaire will be sent to
thsm. Personal interviews and focus groups have not been used for data collection because the
data that is being collected with the help of online survey questionnaires is suffiecintenough for
analysing and generating results.

2.3 Data Analysis Methods

The data receivedthrough Survey Moneky si raw data from the responses fo studnts and this
primary data will be exported to Microsoft Excel spreadhseet for analysis . This will enable the
data to be analysed ro manipulated for quantitative analysis using charts or graphs. Responses
obtained for the close ended questions will be collated , coded as well as analysed using
quantitative analysis. Some fo the charts and graphs obtained in the results can aslo be generated
with the help fo Survey Monhey itself.

3. Study Period

Stage Activities Timeline

Research Proposal The research proposal will be prepared which will Last week of
provide brief outline of the study along with aims and November.
objectives of the study.

Introduction It will be more or less like proposal with detailed 1st week of
Chapter statement of problem , research questions , timeline December
and organization of the study
Literature review Review of the previous articles and journals in Second and
relation to the chosen topic of study Third week of
December.
Research Research approach , philosophy, methods of research Fourth week of
methodology used, data collection methods and data analysis December.
Primary research questionnaire will be used to First week of
gather responses from the respondents January.
Data Analysis the results of the study will be Second week of
analyzed and presented in the form of charts, January.
And tables.
Conclusion, Conclusion of the study based on results obtained and Third week of
Recommendations submission January
and Final Draft

3.1 Participants in the Study

Both male and female students will be participating in the study who are studying graduate or
post graduate in the colleges identified.

3.2 Ethical Considerations

Research ethics arethe standards fo behaviour which results in moral choices along with the
relationship with others. So all therespondents were being informed about the purpose fo the
study by stating it in the cover letter that will be attached to the survey. They will also be
informed that they will be having a choice to either participate or not to participate in the study.
The particpants will be infoemed that their anonymity will be protected and will be guaranteed
and their responses will be kept fully confidential.

3.3 Resources Required in the Study or Budget for Study