About

Zayed University is actively engaged in supporting the UAE Vision 2021 through projects and initiatives designed to integrate and establish a culture of vision, innovation and opportunity available to all Emiratis. The Mobile Enhanced Learning Project (MEL) is such an initiative and is considered a University wide initiative. In a comprehensive 3 year project that is well aligned with elements of each of the four pillars of the UAE Vision 2021 as well as ZU’s strategic objectives, we will establish Zayed University as an international leader in Mobile Enhanced Learning as measured against international benchmarks.

Strategic Alignment

The MEL project, designed as a multi-layered and fully integrated project, will support national Key Performance Indicators and UAE Vision 2021 statements through the enhancement of a Vibrant Culture (UAE Vision 2021, 1.1), will enhance our international standing (UAE Vision 2021, 2.3), contribute to and guide a knowledge and evidence-based educational model (UAE Vision 2021, 3.3), and provide students with an unparalleled educational experience that will transcend the borders of our institution (UAE Vision 2021, 4.2). The MEL project is strategically aligned with ZU’s strategic objectives including:

• Establish a cutting-edge educational environment that promotes creativity and innovation.
• Deliver high quality education that focuses on enriching students› knowledge and skills
• Upgrade the University›s academic and research level

The UAE’s mGovernment initiative is fully integrated into the project through infrastructure, service and educational application development.

This project will help to enhance and improve the UAE on the Global Competitiveness Index ‘Innovation and Sophistication’ scale as well other scales such as ‘Higher education’.

History

In late 2011 Zayed University formed a Mobile Device Committee to evaluate the teaching and learning possibilities afforded by mobile technology. As similar activities were occurring a HCT and UAEU a UAE mobile learning committee was formed in the fall of 2012 to allow the three federal higher education institutions to share resources and lessons learned. iPads had been selected as the device of choice for the project, responsibility for implementation of the iPad initiative fell to each institution. The goal was to pilot iPads under the direction of the ZU Mobile Device Committee, in the ABP programs and to determine their effectiveness and how best to use them in the classroom. iPads and iPad applications were purchased by ZU for the students and faculty to facilitate adoption within the program. This initial implementation program was completed in June 2013.

In order to continue the work begun by the Mobile Device Committees, and to take advantage of the momentum of the earlier project, the current Institutional Mobile Enhanced Learning Project was initiated.

Project Description

The 3 year fully funded MEL Project consists of three primary target areas: (1) Arabization of content, (2) Pedagogical Integration, (3) Research & Dissemination. Combining these elements into a comprehensive program of change and innovation demonstrates the vision and commitment of ZU to student-centered and culturally enhanced learning opportunities.

(1) Arabization of Content

The Arabization of content uses a contextual approach to developing a body of content that builds on and exposes the rich Emirati culture to students and faculty in pedagogically sound and meaningful ways.
Ubiquitous learning is a strategic approach to engaging students that encourages continued learning inside and outside the classroom. Developing Arabized content for use on mobile devices allows students to use and engage with material wherever and whenever they are at helping to facilitate a sustainable culture of continuous and borderless learning.

(2) Pedagogical Integration

Integrating mobile technology and Arabized content to create learning opportunities in meaningful ways requires a good understanding of how our students learn and ways of teaching that are best suited to increase their chances of success during their studies. This project provides the support and motivation to explore the best mobile enhanced pedagogical strategies and techniques for our students that will create a sustainable culture of lifelong learning.

(3) Research & Dissemination

We need to insist on systematic rigor in our teaching and learning practices. We must ensure that the use of mobile devices into our practice is informed by evidence, and where little exists, to generate the evidence through our own research. We want to know what works and what doesn’t, and to add that understanding to our body of knowledge.
A substantial Mobile Learning Research Fund has been established to provide researchers with the support they need to conduct MEL research. Grants of up to 20,000AED are available for researchers to study the most effective ways to integrate mobile learning into their teaching and learning practices. Dissemination through peer-reviewed publication ensures that the evidence gained through our research will continue to be available to the region and internationally.

Institutional Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

The strategic alignment of this project with UAE and with Zayed University’s vision and goals is clear. In order to ensure that we are meeting those goals ZU has developed KPI’s as a way of measuring our progress.
A primary and overarching KPI for this project is to encourage the adoption and use of mobile technology in our teaching and learning. It is only through use that we can begin to understand and actively improve mobile enhanced learning. Thus the strategic KPI to ‘Increase the Mobile Technology penetration rate in the educational process’ has been adopted and ratified by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). Subsequent KPI’s have been adopted by ZU stakeholders in support of this overarching strategic KPI. These include the development of educational apps designed to meet teaching and learning needs, to enhance and support research, and to engage in the provision of training and support in the use and development of mobile enhanced pedagogy and content development.

Scope

The scope of the Mobile Learning Project promotes a sustainable culture of research, creativity and innovation through a generous and targeted program of research funding, the creation of Arabized content that is pedagogically sound and vibrant, development of mobile-enhanced services, and fully engaging students and faculty of Zayed University in the project.