Teachers’ and Students’ Perceptions and Barriers to Technology Utilization at Higher Education Institutions in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Loading...
Date
2023-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
Technology has revolutionized every aspect of modern life, and education is no exception. The necessity of utilizing technology in education, especially in higher education, cannot be understated. With the ever-increasing demands for lifelong learning, students must develop digital literacy skills and be able to navigate and use various technological tools. Incorporating technology into the classroom not only prepares students for the real world but also enhances the learning experience. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the perceptions of teachers and students regarding technology utilization at different higher education institutions in Abu Dhabi and to understand the barriers that can hinder their effective integration. The participants of the study were 39 ESL teachers and 53 students. By gathering data from both teachers and students, this study aimed to capture a diverse range of perspectives on the use of technology in the English language classroom. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The quantitative data is gathered through a survey that is distributed to both teachers and students, while the qualitative data is collected through focus group discussions with a subset of participants. The findings of the study are showed that teachers perceive technology as a crucial aspect of a modern teaching approach and that the most prominent factor the perceive as a barrier is the facilitating condition of the institutions. These findings are expected to shed light on the extent of technology utilization in college classrooms, the factors that influence its adoption, and the barriers that prevent its successful implementation. The study's results are expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies that can be used to overcome the identified barriers and promote technology integration in Abu Dhabi's college education.
Description
Keywords
higher education institutions, United Arab Emirates (UAE), technology utilization