Impact of ICT on teaching and learning in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

The ‘information age’ is described by open computing, the World Wide Web and a various types of users. In the United Arab Emirates, schools have to adapt the changes to realign efficiently with ‘the information age’. For this reason, schools are trying to develop new skills and abilities by reorganizing and restructuring in order to allow such effective transformation. This study examines the impact of technology (termed as ICT) on teaching and learning in American International School (AISA) in Abu Dhabi. The purpose is to get insight on the consequences of good usage of technology in teaching as well as the contribution of technology to students learning. The methodology of this research uses a mixed approach which is qualitative and quantitative, two surveys with both teachers and students and one interview with teachers were conducted by the researcher that included a group of research questions which looked for answers on the status of ICT in the American International School in Abu Dhabi, consequently, its impact on teaching and learning. However, most of the teachers agree that ICT influence their planning of teaching concerning course preparation, even though, a mismatch is found between policy and implementation. A little is being made regarding the training of the teachers for developing their skills in all aspects of ICT. In addition to that, the teachers in the school require support and time in order to use recent technologies and strategies so they can improve their personal work before to learn using them in the teaching process. The school sounds to produce students with skills as the main contribution of ICT instead of being an instrument to improve the different intellectual abilities of the students, even though, it is very interesting to find that there is a positive attitude about the use of ICT in the school.