This pilot study investigates the integration of technology-enhanced learning in UAE universities from the perspective of university teachers, focusing on their usage, preferences, and expectations. Findings indicate that while traditional tools like PowerPoint and videos dominate, there's increasing use of mobile devices and applications, although advanced technologies such as AI and VR remain minimally incorporated. Teachers anticipate a growth in technology use in future educational processes, particularly mobile devices becoming standard in classrooms.

2. THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED
LEARNING AT THE UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES: THE TEACHERS` PERSPECTIVE

3. Marko Selakovic
Senior Manager – Institutional Development
S P Jain School of Global Management
Dubai – Sydney – Singapore - Mumbai
Dr. Nikolina Ljepava
MBA Program Director
American University in the Emirates
Dr. Marija Runic Ristic
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Management Novi Sad

4. OVERVIEW
• Application of technologies in the classrom became the neccessity of the modern
higher education
• The generation of digital natives, proficient with all technological tools have different
educational expectations: they prefer graphics over text, search for information
quickly, multitask and tend to read randomly (Uyguarer at al. 2016)
The aim of this pilot study is to explore the levels of usage of the technology-
enhanced learning in clasroom, taking into account considerations, preferences, and
perspectives of the University teachers from the United Arab Emirates.

5. RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
• University teachers in the United Arab Emirates do not utilize the possibilites offered
by the technology-enhanced learning to the full extent.
• There is a difference between different socio-demographic groups included in the
sample, in terms of the technologies used in the teaching and learning processes.
• University teachers in the United Arab Emirates believe that technology-enhanced
teaching and learning processes will be more present in the future, comparing with
the present moment.

6. PILOT RESEARCH
• 126 University teachers from different public and private Universities in the UAE
• The sample incorporated different strata – by age, scientific field, years of academic
service and academic ranking.

7. PILOT RESEARCH
• Business/management and social/humanistic science teachers prevail in the sample
– reflection of the real picture of the higher education in the UAE

8. PILOT RESEARCH
Data collection: Anonymous survey
The respondents have been asked to identify:
- the tools they are using in the technology-enhanced learning process.
- teaching practices and obstacles related to the use of different tools: generic social
network sites, professional and academic networking services, writing and
commenting tools and available audio-video content tools.
- to express their opinion regarding the presence of technology-enhanced learning in
their future work, and if the mobile phones are going to become a tool in the in-
classroom learning process.

9. INDICATIVE FINDINGS
• PowerPoint presentations and videos are still dominant tools used in the learning
process.
• Mobile devices and applications, discussion boards, simulations and e-portfolio
became significantly present in the learning process. However, they are less present
than PowerPoint presentations and videos.
• Virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and machine learning are still
not incorporated in the learning processes to high extent.

11. Descriptive Statistics
N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Social media (Facebook, Instagram)
108 1.00 4.00 2.2500 1.07760
Discussion boards 108 1.00 4.00 2.6667 1.16008
Blogs 110 1.00 4.00 2.1727 1.04801
E-portfolio 108 1.00 4.00 2.9444 1.18269
Mobile devices and applications
112 1.00 4.00 2.5714 1.15247
Power Point presentations 110 3.00 4.00 3.8364 .37164
Videos 110 1.00 4.00 3.5727 .70981
Virtual Reality 106 1.00 4.00 1.2925 .74280
Simulations 106 1.00 4.00 2.7453 1.09598
Virtual classroom 106 1.00 4.00 2.0472 1.13290
Smart-boards 108 1.00 4.00 2.3889 1.19839
Augmented Reality 108 1.00 4.00 1.1481 .56062
Machine Learning 108 1.00 4.00 1.2593 .64664
Artificial Intelligence 106 1.00 4.00 1.2547 .64824
Valid N (listwise) 98

12. INDICATIVE FINDINGS
• Within the cohort of the respondents, older respondents are less enthusiastic
regarding the usage of the technology in the learning process.
• Statistically significant differences occur at the level of usage of mobile applications,
social media, blogs and discussion boards.
• Group comparisons could not be conducted for virtual reality, artificial intelligence,
machine learning and augmented reality due to the small number of participants
using these technologies.
• Conclusions limited due to sample size.

13. Discussion boards 26-35 36-45 -.20760 .29800 .898 -.9857 .5705
46-55 -.37427 .31469 .635 -1.1959 .4474
more than 55 .96761* .31718 .015 .1394 1.7958
36-45 26-35 .20760 .29800 .898 -.5705 .9857
46-55 -.16667 .26754 .925 -.8652 .5319
more than 55 1.17521* .27047 .000 .4690 1.8814
46-55 26-35 .37427 .31469 .635 -.4474 1.1959
36-45 .16667 .26754 .925 -.5319 .8652
more than 55 1.34188* .28875 .000 .5879 2.0958
more than 55 26-35 -.96761* .31718 .015 -1.7958 -.1394
36-45 -1.17521* .27047 .000 -1.8814 -.4690
46-55 -1.34188* .28875 .000 -2.0958 -.5879
Social media
(Facebook,
Instagram)
26-35 36-45 -.46491 .27143 .322 -1.1736 .2438
46-55 .22027 .28663 .868 -.5281 .9687
more than 55 .90688* .28890 .012 .1525 1.6612
36-45 26-35 .46491 .27143 .322 -.2438 1.1736
46-55 .68519* .24369 .030 .0489 1.3215
more than 55 1.37179* .24636 .000 .7285 2.0150
46-55 26-35 -.22027 .28663 .868 -.9687 .5281
36-45 -.68519* .24369 .030 -1.3215 -.0489
more than 55 .68661 .26301 .050 -.0001 1.3734
more than 55 26-35 -.90688* .28890 .012 -1.6612 -.1525
36-45 -1.37179* .24636 .000 -2.0150 -.7285
46-55 -.68661 .26301 .050 -1.3734 .0001
Blogs 26-35 36-45 -.36842 .28621 .573 -1.1155 .3787
46-55 -.15400 .30503 .958 -.9502 .6422
more than 55 .41296 .30744 .538 -.3895 1.2155
36-45 26-35 .36842 .28621 .573 -.3787 1.1155
46-55 .21442 .25639 .837 -.4548 .8837
more than 55 .78138* .25926 .017 .1047 1.4581
46-55 26-35 .15400 .30503 .958 -.6422 .9502
36-45 -.21442 .25639 .837 -.8837 .4548
more than 55 .56695 .27989 .185 -.1636 1.2975
more than 55 26-35 -.41296 .30744 .538 -1.2155 .3895
36-45 -.78138* .25926 .017 -1.4581 -.1047
46-55 -.56695 .27989 .185 -1.2975 .1636
Mobile devices
and applications
26-35 36-45 -.18045 .28758 .923 -.9309 .5700
46-55 -.13757 .30773 .970 -.9406 .6655
more than 55 1.02198* .31031 .007 .2122 1.8317
36-45 26-35 .18045 .28758 .923 -.5700 .9309
46-55 .04288 .26621 .999 -.6518 .7376
more than 55 1.20243* .26919 .000 .5000 1.9049
46-55 26-35 .13757 .30773 .970 -.6655 .9406
36-45 -.04288 .26621 .999 -.7376 .6518
more than 55 1.15954* .29061 .001 .4012 1.9179
more than 55 26-35 -1.02198* .31031 .007 -1.8317 -.2122
36-45 -1.20243* .26919 .000 -1.9049 -.5000
46-55 -1.15954* .29061 .001 -1.9179 -.4012

14. INDICATIVE FINDINGS
• Technologies are predominantly considered as effective in the learning process.
• Simulations and videos are considered as the most effective tools

15. INDICATIVE FINDINGS
• The respondents expect all the technologies, except blogs and PowerPoint
presentation, to be more present in the learning processes of the future

16. INDICATIVE FINDINGS
• The vast majority of the respondents believe that more technology-enhanced
learning tools will be involved into teaching process in the future.
• Majority of the respondents agree or strongly agree that mobile phones and devices
will become a regular tool in the in-classroom learning proces in the future.
Descriptive Statistics
N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation
Mobile phones and devices will become a regular
tool in the in-classroom learning process 110 1.00 5.00 3.8182 1.10197
More technology-enhanced learning tools will be
involved into teaching process in the future
112 1.00 5.00 4.3571 .95726
Valid N (listwise) 110

17. INDICATIVE FINDINGS

18. DO WE REALLY KNOW
• What is Smart Learning?
• How to achieve Smart Learning?
• How to involve the technology?
• What to expect from the students in the future?
• What to expect from the industry in the future?

19. THANK YOU!
marko.selakovic@spjain.org
TO BE CONTINUED…