Perceptions of Using Smart Mobile Devices in Higher Education Teaching: A Case Study from Palestine

Year 2015, Volume: 6 Issue: 4, 301 - 318, 01.12.2015

Khitam Shraim Helen Crompton

Abstract

Smart mobile devices (SMDs), especially smartphones and tablets, are becoming increasingly ubiquitous among educators and students in Palestine. While their use is on the rise, many academics are not effectively incorporating this technology into their teaching, which may be attributable to their negative perceptions of these devices. This study therefore examined academics’ perceptions of the value of integrating SMDs into their teaching activities. A questionnaire survey collected data from 56 academic staff of the Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie, eliciting perceptions of the physical attributes of SMDs, participants’ self-efficacy, the pedagogical affordance of mobile devices and challenges to their use in teaching. The findings show that participants were still at the stage of actively experimenting with smartphones and iPads, trialing their use at different levels and for different purposes. In general, although participants were unaware of the full potential of their functionalities, they viewed positively the various pedagogical affordances of integrating these devices into their teaching activities. The most important affordances were linking formal and informal learning spaces by providing anywhere-anytime learning opportunities, and developing interest in the subject matter, thus making learning experience more enjoyable, meaningful, and accessible. The results also identify various challenges including lack of experience and knowledge, finding the time to design and implement such integration, and selecting appropriate apps for the content being taught. Participants also expressed concerns with the limited connectivity and unreliability of Wi-Fi and 3G/4G networks in Palestine.

Keywords

Higher education, Smart mobile devices, Mobile learning, Faculty perceptions

References

• Atallah, R. & Abu Ghosh, M. (2015). Mobile cloud computing: Academic services for Palestinian higher education institutions (MCCAS). International Journal of Engineering Research and General Science, 1(3), 22-27.
• Alzaza, N.S.(2012). Opportunities for utilizing mobile learning services in the Palestinian Higher Education. International Arab Journal of e-Technology, 2(4), 216-222.
• Bennett, S., Maton, K., & Kervin, L. (2008). The “digital natives” debate: A critical review of the evidence. British Journal of Educational Technology, 39(5), 775-786.
• Churchill, D., Fox, B., & King, M. (2012). Study of affordances of ipads and teachers’ private theories. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 2(3), 251-254.
• Crompton, H. (2013a). A historical overview of mobile learning: Toward learner-centered education. In Z. L. Berge & L. Y. Muilenburg (Eds.), Handbook of mobile learning (pp. 3-14). Florence, KY: Routledge.
• Crompton, H. (2013b). Mobile learning: New approach, new theory. In Z. L. Berge & L. Y. Muilenburg (Eds.), Handbook of mobile learning (pp. 47-57). Florence, KY: Routledge.
• El-Hussein, M. O. M. & Cronje, J. C. (2010). Defining mobile learning in the higher education landscape. Educational Technology & Society, 13(3), 12-21.
• GSMA (2013). Arab states mobile observatory 2013 report. Retrieved on 6 March 2015 from http://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wpcontent/uploads/2012/03/GSMA_MobileObservator y_ArabStates2013.pdf
• Handal, B., MacNish, J., & Petocz, P. (2013). Academics adopting mobile devices: The zone of Haythornthwaite (Eds.). The Sage handbook of e-learning research (pp. 221-247). London: Sage.
• Isabwe, G.M.N. (2014). Mobile learning: Learning supported by mobile technology based tools. Retrieved on 6 March 2015 http://ufbutv.com/2014/03/16/mobile-learning-learning- supported-by-mobile-technology-based-tools/
• Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., & Stone, S. (2010). The 2010 horizon report. Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium.
• Johnson, L., Smith, R., Willis, H., Levine, A., & Haywood, K. (2011). The 2011 horizon report. Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium.
• Kearney, M. & Maher,D. (2013). Mobile learning in maths teachers education: Using iPads to support pre-service teachers' professional development. Australian Educational Computing, 27(3), 76-84.
• Khaddage, F. & Zeidan, F. (2012, September). iPad in higher education, ready or not? A college case study in the Middle East. Proceeding of ICL (Interactive Collaborative Learning) Conference, Villach, Austria.
• Looi, C. K., Seow, P., Zhang, B. H., So, H. J., Chen, W. L., & Wong, L. H. (2010). Leveraging mobile technology for sustainable seamless learning: a research agenda. British Journal of Educational Technologies, 41(2), 154-169.
• Marinakou, E. & Giousmpasoglou, C. (2014, March). M-learning in higher education in Bahrain: The educators’ view. Proceedings of the, HBMeU Congress 2014: Leading transformation to sustainable excellence. Dubai, UAE.
• MacCallum,K. and Jeffrey,L. (2009). Identifying discriminating variables that determine mobile learning adoption by educators: An initial study. Proceedings of ascilite:” Same places, different spaces”, Auckland 2009.
• Melhuish, K. & Falloon, G. (2010). Looking to the future: M-learning with the iPad. Computers in New Zealand Schools: Learning, Leading, Technology, 22(3), 1-15.
• Mills, L., Knezek, G., & Khaddage, F. (2014) Information seeking, information sharing, and going mobile: Three bridges to informal learning. Computers in Human Behavior, 32(2) 324-334.
• Mishra, P. & Koehler, M. (2006). Technological pedagogical content knowledge: A new framework for teacher knowledge”. Teachers College Record, 108(6), 1017-1054.
• Murphy, G.D. (2011). Post pc devices: A summary of the early iPad technology adoption in tertiary environments. E-Journal of Business and Scholarship of Teaching, 5(1), 18-32.
• Pachler, N. (2009). The LMLG socio-cultural ecological approach to mobile learning. London: LMLG WLE Centre.http://www.londonmobilelearning.net/downloads/LMLG_SCEA_2009.pdf
• Pegrum, M., Oakley, G., & Faulkner, R. (2013). Schools going mobile: A study of the adoption of mobile handheld technologies in Western Australian independent schools. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 29(1), 66-81.
• Quinn, C. (2000). Mobile learning: Mobiles, wireless, in-your-pocket learning. LiNEZine. Retrieved on 6 March 2015 from http://www.linezine.com/2.1/features/cqmmwiyp.htm
• Rosenberg, M. J. (2001). E-learning: Strategies for delivering knowledge in the digital age. New York: MacGraw-Hill.
• Russell, M., O'Dwyer, L. M., Bebell, D., & Tao, W. (2007). How teachers' uses of technology vary by tenure and longevity. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 37, 393-417.
• Sad, S.N. & Goktas, O. (2013). Preservice teachers’ perceptions about using mobile phones and laptops in education as mobile learning tools. British Journal of Educational Technology, 45(4) 606-618.
• Sharples, M., Taylor, J.,& Vavoula, G. (2007). A theory of learning for the mobile age. In R. Andrews & C. Haythornthwaite (Eds.),The Sage handbook of e-learning research (pp.221- 247). London: Sage.
• Shraim, K. (2012) Moving towards e-learning paradigm: Readiness of higher education institutions in Palestine. International Journal on E-Learning, 11(4), 441-463.
• Shraim, K. (2014) A case study of mobile technology-enabled English language learning: The Amazon kindle e-reader initiative in Palestine. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 8(3), 25-31.
• Srivastava, A. (2014). 2 billion smartphone users by 2015: 83% of Internet usage from mobiles. Retrieved on 6 March 2015 from http://dazeinfo.com/2014/01/23/smartphone-users- growth-mobile-internet-2014-2017/
• Stayton, L. (2011). Mobile learning: Look before you leap. Retrieved on 6 March 2015 from https://www.td.org/Publications/Newsletters/Learning-Circuits/Learning-Circuits- Archives/2011/06/Mobile-Learning-Look-Before-You-Leap
• Thomas, K. & O’Bannon, B. (2013). Cell phones in the classroom: Preservice teachers’ perceptions. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 30(1), 11-20.
• Thompson, P. (2013).The digital natives as learners: Technology use patterns and approaches to learning. Computers and Education, 65, 12-33.
• Traxler, J. (2010). Will student devices deliver innovation, inclusion, and transformation? Journal of the Research Center for Educational Technology, 6(1), 3-15.
• Walters, E. A. ( 2011). Will the iPad revolutionize education? Retrieved on 6 March 2015 from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/Leading_and_Learning_Docs/May-2011-Point- Counterpoint.sflb.ashx
• Winters, N. (2006). What is mobile learning? In M. Sharples (Ed.), Big issues in mobile learning: Report of a workshop by the Kaleidoscope network of excellence mobile learning initiative. University of Nottingham. England.
• Woodill, G. (2013). The unique affordances of mobile learning understand how to leverage them prior to design and development. Retrieved on 6 March 2015 from http://floatlearning. com/ 2013/11/the-unique-affordances-of-mobile-learning/
• Yang, S.H. (2012). Exploring college students’ attitudes and self-efficacy of mobile learning. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 11(4), 148-154.
• Correspondence: Khtam Shraim, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Technology,
• Palestine Technical University-Kadooire, Tulkarm, Palestine