Use of Cell Phones in Education at King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia A ...

168 Pages·2012·3.45 MB·English

by  Elham Alsadoon

Use of Cell Phones in Education at King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia

A dissertation presented to
the faculty of
The Patton College of Education
of Ohio University

In partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
Doctor of Philosophy

Hamadah S. Alsadoon
December 2012
© 2012 Hamadah S. Alsadoon. All Rights Reserved.
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This dissertation titled
Use of Cell Phones in Education at King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia

by
HAMADAH S. ALSADOON

has been approved for
the Department of Educational Studies
and The Patton College of Education by

Teresa J. Franklin
Professor of Educational Studies

Renée A. Middleton

Dean, The Patton College of Education
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Abstract
ALSADOON, HAMADAH S., Ph.D. December 2012, Instructional Technology
Use of Cell Phones in Education at King Saud University in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia
Director of Dissertation: Teresa J. Franklin
The purpose of this study was to explore the Saudi students’ perceptions of the
ways in which cell phones can be used in learning and teaching as well as the obstacles
that might prevent their use in education. The study also aimed at investigating whether
or not there is a gender difference in perceptions of cell phone use and barriers in
education. The students have a positive attitude about the use of cell phones in
education. The most useful way to implement the use of cell phones in learning as
perceived by Saudi students was to send notifications and to use the cell phones
applications. The most serious negative concerns were that students could cheat using
cell phones and that the phones had the potential to distract students. The study revealed
that there is no significant difference between males and females in their perceptions
toward the use of cell phones in education.
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Dedication

To the one who has constantly prayed to Allah for my success
To the one who has forgiven my shortcomings towards her during my study
TO MY MOTHER

To the one who has supported me during my educational journey
To the one who has shared my intellect and hopes
To the one who has lived my suffering and has scarified for me
To the one who has accompanied me in a strange land
TO MY BELOVED WIFE … THE MOTHER OF MY CHILDREN

To those who have lived in strange land just for me
To those who left their friends and relatives just for me
TO MY BELOVED CHILDREN
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Table of Contents
Page

Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 3!
Dedication .......................................................................................................................... 4!
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... 5!
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... 7!
List of Figures .................................................................................................................... 9!
Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................... 10!
Background of the Study ............................................................................................. 10!
Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................. 12!
Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................... 13!
Research Questions ...................................................................................................... 13!
Research Hypothesis .................................................................................................... 14!
Significance of the Study ............................................................................................. 14!
Limitations of the Study .............................................................................................. 15!
Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................... 15!
Organization of the Study ............................................................................................ 16!
Chapter 2: Literature Review ........................................................................................... 18!
Education in Saudi Arabia ........................................................................................... 18!
The Development of Cell Phones ................................................................................ 21!
Cell Phones and Change .............................................................................................. 24!
Gender and Cell Phone Use ......................................................................................... 26!
Obstacles to Using Cell Phones in Education .............................................................. 29!
Cell Phones in Education Use ...................................................................................... 40!
The Advantages of Using Cell Phones in Education ................................................... 44!
Learning and Cell Phones ............................................................................................ 53!
Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 56!
Chapter 3: Methodology .................................................................................................. 58!
Research questions ....................................................................................................... 59!
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The sample ................................................................................................................... 60!
Instrumentation ............................................................................................................ 61!
Data Collection Procedures ......................................................................................... 71!
Data Analysis Procedures ............................................................................................ 72!
Summary ...................................................................................................................... 73!
Chapter 4: Results ............................................................................................................ 74!
Data Collection Procedures ......................................................................................... 74!
Demographic Data Analysis ........................................................................................ 75!
Reliability of the Instrument ........................................................................................ 81!
Research Question Analysis ........................................................................................ 82!
Chapter 5: Discussions, Conclusions, and Recommendations ...................................... 113!
Introduction ................................................................................................................ 113!
Research Question and Hypothesis ............................................................................ 114!
Discussion of the Findings ......................................................................................... 115!
Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 121!
Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 122!
References ...................................................................................................................... 124!
Appendix A: the Questionnaire ..................................................................................... 143!
Appendix B: Literature Supports the Questionnaire’s Items ......................................... 147!
Appendix C: A Copy of an Invitation Email ................................................................. 150!
Appendix D: A Copy of the Questionnaire .................................................................... 151!
Appendix E: A Copy of the Reminder Email to Participate in the Study ...................... 155!
Appendix F: G*Power Screen Shot ............................................................................... 156!
Appendix G: Gender*Disposable Card Crosstabulation ............................................... 157!
Appendix H: Gender*Data Plan Crosstabulation .......................................................... 158!
Appendix I: Histogram for the Barrier and Usage Construct ........................................ 159!
Appendix J: The Scatter Plots ........................................................................................ 160!
Appendix K: Box’s M Test ............................................................................................ 161!
Appendix M: IRB Approval ......................................................................................... 164!
Appendix N: The Letter from the College of Education at King Saud University ........ 165!
Appendix O: Factors Analysis Output ........................................................................... 166!
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List of Tables
Page

Table 3.1 Gender of the participants in the pilot study ............................. …………... 63
Table 3.2 The Pilot study participants’ answer to the question:
Do you own a laptop? ................................................................................... 64
Table 3.3 The Pilot study participants’ answer to the question:
Do you own a cell phone? ............................................................................. 64
Table 3.4 The Pilot study participants’ answer to the question:
Do you own a cell phone with a data plan .................................................... 64
Table 3.5 Items that Examine the Barriers Construct …………………………………67
Table 3.6 Items that Examine the Usage Construct …………………………………...69
Table 3.7 Reliability Statistics for the Barriers construct ............................................ 70
Table 3.8 Reliability Statistics for the Barriers construct
after deleting items 3, 10 and 15. .................................................................. 70
Table 3.9 Reliability Statistics for the Usages construct .............................................. 71
Table 4.1 Participants’ Gender ..................................................................................... 76
Table 4.2 Participants’ Ages ........................................................................................ 76
Table 4.3 Participants’ Majors ...................................................................................... 78
Table 4.4 Do you own a laptop? ................................................................................... 79
Table 4.5 Do you own a cell phone? ............................................................................. 80
Table 4.6 Is your cell phone a smartphone? ................................................................. 80
Table 4.7 Do you use disposable phone card? .............................................................. 81
Table 4.8 Do you have a data plan on your cell phone? ............................................... 81
Table 4.9 Reliability of Instrument .............................................................................. 82
Table 4.10 Descriptive Statistics for the Barriers Construct Items .............................. 86
Table 4.11 Descriptive Statistics for the Usage Construct Items .................................. 95
Table 4.12 I have used my cell phone for my own learning ....................................... 100
Table 4.13 I have used my cell phone for my own learning (describe) ...................... 101
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Table 4.14 My professor has had me use my cell phone for learning ...................... 102
Table 4.15 My professor has had me use my cell phone for learning (describe) ....... 103
Table 4.16 My professor has used a cell phone to help me learn ............................... 104
Table 4.17 My professor has used a cell phone to help me learn (describe) ............. 104
Table 4.18 What do you use your cell phone for? ...................................................... 106
Table 4.19 What are ways you believe cell phones can be used for learning? ......... 108
Table 4.20 What are the barriers/problems to using cell phones in education? ........ 110
Table 4.21 The output of One-Way MANOVA…………………………………..…..112
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List of Figures
Page
Figure 4.1. The histogram of participants in terms of age. ………………………… 77
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Chapter 1: Introduction
Background of the Study
Mobile devices have spread rapidly all around the world and have become more
commonly used than computers (Keskin & Metcalf, 2011). “Mobile devices have
surpassed the adoption of new technologies” (Al Hosni, Ali & Ashrafi, 2010, p. 787).
People carry them with their keys and wallets all the time and everywhere (Franklin,
2011). Cell phones are no longer just phones; they have become multiple purpose tools.
People use them to call, take pictures, record videos or audio, play music, browse the
Internet, check the weather, find directions, translate a word, read an e-book, play a
game, attend a virtual class, and even read a product price.
These digital technologies have been part of the daily life of today’s students.
The technological environment they live in has created a generation called ‘digital
natives’ with a different way of thinking and of processing information from past
generations (Cobcroft, Towers, Smith, & Bruns, 2006). This type of learner is
characterized as “digitally literate, ‘always on’, mobile, experimental and community
oriented” (Cobcrof et al., 2006, p. 3). This phenomenon has prompted educational
institutions to adjust their educational services to the current trend of providing mobile
learning (Keskin & Metcalf, 2011). Providing today’s learners with the educational
resources that they expect, such as mobile learning, is a pedagogical need (McCombs &
Liu, 2011). Mobile learning, or m-learning, as defined by Chuang (2009) is “[l]earning
that happens across locations, or that takes advantage of learning opportunities offered