M-learning technology in Arab Gulf countries: A systematic review of progress and recommendations

With the recent development in mobile devices and mobile services, mobile learning (m-learning) has become one of the most common research topics across Arab Gulf countries (AGC). The literature showed an inconsistent usage of m-learning in these countries. This paper sheds light on the progress of m-learning use in AGC, as well as offering recommendations to improve its adoption success. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the current evidence on the use of m-learning in AGC across several groups of instructors and students. The results from reviewing 31 previous studies showed that students’ and instructors’ acceptance and use of m-learning were the main topics of concerned. In addition, the lack of research on leadership and policy practices in AGC may lead to technology failure. The key recommendations on best practices related to the use of m-learning in AGC were presented and discussed.

[1]  Khaled Shaalan,et al.  Attitudes Towards the Use of Mobile Learning: A Case Study from the Gulf Region , 2015, Int. J. Interact. Mob. Technol..

[2]  M. Seliaman,et al.  Mobile Learning Adoption in Saudi Arabia , 2012 .

[3]  Mansour A. Alwraikat,et al.  Exploring the Potential of Mobile Learning Use Among Faculty Members , 2014, Int. J. Interact. Mob. Technol..

[4]  Azad Ali Muhammed,et al.  The Impact of Mobiles on Language Learning on the Part of English Foreign Language (EFL) University Students , 2014 .

[5]  Ramzi Nasser,et al.  Using Mobile Device to Increase Student Academic Outcomes in Qatar , 2014 .

[6]  Sarmad Mohammad,et al.  Adaption of M-Learning as a Tool in Blended Learning- A Case Study in AOU Bahrain , 2013 .

[7]  Mohammed Amin Almaiah,et al.  Examination of factors influencing the use of mobile learning system: An empirical study , 2018, Education and Information Technologies.

[8]  Ahmad Althunibat,et al.  Determining the factors influencing students' intention to use m-learning in Jordan higher education , 2015, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[9]  Ke Zhang,et al.  Mobile learning technology acceptance in Saudi Arabian higher education: an extended framework and A mixed-method study , 2019, Education and Information Technologies.

[10]  Huda Hussein Mohammad Jawad,et al.  Applying Utaut to Evaluate the Acceptance of Mobile Learning in Higher Education in Iraq , 2015 .

[11]  Mohamed Sarrab,et al.  M-learning in Education: Omani Undergraduate Students Perspective , 2015 .

[12]  J. Traxler Defining, Discussing and Evaluating Mobile Learning: The moving finger writes and having writ . . . . , 2007 .

[13]  Salah Al-Sharhan,et al.  Perceptions and challenges of mobile learning in Kuwait , 2016, J. King Saud Univ. Comput. Inf. Sci..

[14]  D. Moher,et al.  Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement , 2009, BMJ.

[15]  Hosam Al-Samarraie,et al.  An empirical study of the impact of multiple modes of delivery on student learning in a blended course , 2018 .

[16]  Frederick J. Brigham,et al.  Science Education and Students with Learning Disabilities , 2011 .

[17]  Fathima Sakeena Narayanasamy,et al.  Adaptation of Mobile Learning in Higher Educational Institutions of Saudi Arabia , 2013 .

[18]  Hosam Al-Samarraie,et al.  A DEMATEL method in identifying design requirements for mobile environments: students’ perspectives , 2018, J. Comput. High. Educ..

[19]  M. Dhurup,et al.  WALKING THE TALK IN THE SPORT FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY: A GENERATION Y COHORT ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER-BASED BRAND EQUITY DIMENSIONS AND PURCHASE INTENTION , 2016 .

[20]  Mohamed Sarrab,et al.  An Empirical Study of Factors Driving the Adoption of Mobile Learning in Omani Higher Education , 2016 .

[21]  A. Dashti,et al.  Students’ Satisfaction and Factors in Using Mobile Learning among College Students in Kuwait , 2018 .

[22]  Mohammed-Issa Riad Mousa Jaradat,et al.  Assessing Key Factor that Influence on the Acceptance of Mobile Commerce Based on Modified UTAUT , 2013 .

[23]  Richard P. Bagozzi,et al.  The Legacy of the Technology Acceptance Model and a Proposal for a Paradigm Shift , 2007, J. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[24]  Hossam Faris,et al.  Mobile Based Learning and Examination: Students and Instructors Perceptions from Different Arab Countries , 2013 .

[25]  Khaled Shaalan,et al.  Academics’ Awareness towards Mobile Learning in Oman , 2017 .

[26]  Sarab M. Hameed,et al.  Students' Perspectives in Adopting Mobile Learning at University of Bahrain , 2013, 2013 Fourth International Conference on e-Learning "Best Practices in Management, Design and Development of e-Courses: Standards of Excellence and Creativity".

[27]  O. Alharbi,et al.  Instructor Acceptance of Mobile Learning in Saudi Arabia: A Case Study of Hail University , 2017 .

[28]  Sallimah M. Salleh Examining the influence of teachers ' beliefs towards technology integration in classroom , 2016 .

[29]  Musaed Alhussein,et al.  Modeling Learners' Readiness to Adopt Mobile Learning: A Perspective from a GCC Higher Education Institution , 2016, Mob. Inf. Syst..

[30]  Saleh Al-Shehri,et al.  Mobile Learning in the Arab World: Contemporary and Future Implications , 2016 .

[31]  A. Y. M. Atiquil Islam,et al.  Assessing Mobile Learning Readiness in Saudi Arabia Higher Education: An Empirical Study. , 2014 .

[32]  Sujeet Kumar Sharma,et al.  Development and validation of Mobile Learning Acceptance Measure , 2017, Interact. Learn. Environ..

[33]  Yueh-Min Huang,et al.  A Jigsaw-based Cooperative Learning Approach to Improve Learning Outcomes for Mobile Situated Learning , 2014, J. Educ. Technol. Soc..

[34]  Evangelia Marinakou,et al.  M-learning in higher education in Bahrain: the educators' view , 2014 .

[35]  Yeonjeong Park,et al.  A Pedagogical Framework for Mobile Learning: Categorizing Educational Applications of Mobile Technologies into Four Types. , 2011 .

[36]  Ryan S. Baker,et al.  Educational Data Mining and Learning Analytics , 2014 .

[37]  Muhammad Ghulam,et al.  The impact of m-learning technology on students and educators , 2014, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[38]  Ahmaid R. Mohain,et al.  Investigating and Finding the Attitudes and Self Efficiency of Learners in Iraqi Higher Education by Using Portable Devices , 2013 .

[39]  Hosam Al-Samarraie,et al.  M-learning adoption in the Arab gulf countries: A systematic review of factors and challenges , 2019, Education and Information Technologies.

[40]  Ali Abdulbaqi Ameen,et al.  DETERMINANTS OF STUDENT’S INTENTION TO USE MOBILE LEARNING IN YEMENI PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES: EXTENDING THE TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL (TAM) WITH ANXIETY , 2018 .

[41]  Rana Alhajri,et al.  Prospects and Challenges of Mobile Learning Implementation: A Case Study , 2016 .

[42]  Leena Ahmad Alfarani Influences on the adoption of mobile learning in saudi women teachers in higher education , 2014 .

[43]  Hosam Al-Samarraie,et al.  Use of Design Patterns According to Hand Dominance in a Mobile User Interface , 2016 .

[44]  Linda Darling-Hammond,et al.  Implications for educational practice of the science of learning and development , 2019, Applied Developmental Science.

[45]  Kieran Mathieson,et al.  Predicting User Intentions: Comparing the Technology Acceptance Model with the Theory of Planned Behavior , 1991, Inf. Syst. Res..

[46]  R. Alshammari,et al.  Faculty attitudes towards the use of mobile devices in EFL teaching in a Saudi Arabian setting , 2016 .

[47]  Ahmed Alsswey,et al.  Investigating the Acceptance of Mobile Health Application User Interface Cultural-Based Design to Assist Arab Elderly Users , 2018 .

[48]  T. Thomas,et al.  The utility of the UTAUT model in explaining mobile learning adoption in higher education in Guyana , 2013 .

[49]  Hosam Al-Samarraie,et al.  How Course, Contextual, and Technological Challenges are Associated With Instructors’ Individual Challenges to Successfully Implement E-Learning: A Developing Country Perspective , 2019, IEEE Access.

[50]  K. Beswick The importance of mathematics teachers' beliefs , 2006 .

[51]  Salah Al-Sharhan,et al.  Instructors Age and Gender Differences in the Acceptance of Mobile Learning , 2017, Int. J. Interact. Mob. Technol..

[52]  Hosam Al-Samarraie,et al.  Educational data mining and learning analytics for 21st century higher education: A review and synthesis , 2019, Telematics Informatics.

[53]  Enas Al-Lozi,et al.  Get Ready to Mobile Learning : Examining Factors Affecting College Students' Behavioral Intentions to Use M-Learning in Saudi Arabia = الاستعداد للتعلم الإلكتروني باستخدام الأجهزة النقالة : العوامل المؤثرة في نية طلاب الجامعات لاستخدام التعلم الإلكتروني في المملكة العربية السعودية , 2014 .

[54]  Hosam Al-Samarraie,et al.  A systematic review of cloud computing tools for collaborative learning: Opportunities and challenges to the blended-learning environment , 2018, Comput. Educ..

[55]  Azidah Abu Ziden,et al.  Adoption and Application of Mobile Learning in the Education Industry , 2013 .

[56]  Zoheir Ezziane,et al.  Mobile learning technologies for 21st-century educators: opportunities and challenges in the UAE , 2015, Int. J. Mob. Learn. Organisation.