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Many researchers argue that pervasive and ubiquitous access to mobile technologies will have a role to play in the way we learn (Churchill, Fox & King, 2012; Klopfer, Squire & Jenkins, 2002; Liaw, Hatala & Huang, 2010; Mockus, et al., 2011; Naismith, Lonsdale, Vavoula, & Sharples, 2004; Patten, Sa´nchez & Tangney, 2006). Mobile technologies that include a wide variety of devices connected to different kinds of networks such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital cameras, portable media players, smart phones, and tablets (Mockus, et al., 2011), enable learners to learn at anytime, anywhere, transforming e-learning into mobile learning (m-learning), which has emerged as an innovative learning approach (Garrison, 2011).
Educational institutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are becoming more engaged with the new m-technologies as a tool to revolutionize and improve the way students learn and how they are taught. For example, the UAE Federal higher education institutions embarked on a historic initiative to move education into the m-learning era by introducing iPad-based teaching and learning. The tablets were put into use by approximately 14,000 students in September, 2012. The objective of the initiative was to improve higher education in the UAE and motivate and engage students in their intellectual development (United Arab Emirates University, 2012). Another example is the launch of Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Smart Learning. The AED1-billion project, which will be piloted over a period of five years in public schools, aims to establish a unique learning environment in schools through the introduction of ‘Smart Classes’, with students utilizing computer tablets and high-speed 4G networks as a means of acquiring knowledge (Ibrahim, 2012). In addition to these governmental initiatives, it is noticeable that most students in the UAE own several mobile devices with advanced features and they bring them to school. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization {UNESCO}, (2012), the mobile technology penetration rate reaches more than 100% in the UAE. These developments have led to several attempts to use mobile technology in both formal and informal learning in the country.
It is evident that m-learning and its technologies have created great possibilities and new innovative practices in education. However, it is important to understand the affordances of m-learning well enough to sufficiently improve learning outcomes and respond to the demands of educational reform initiatives. In addition, there are existing factors that might hinder the effectiveness of m-learning adoption. The literature suggests that the use of new technology in teaching and learning is influenced by individuals’ beliefs that this technology will afford learning in some way (Barnes, 2000). According to Schellens, Van Keer, & Valcke (2005), individuals’ perception of a learning task defines the challenge, difficulty, and the balance of motivation necessary to address it. M-learning is one of the topics that have gained a lot of attention in the western educational literature. However, there is a lack of empirical research in the area of m-learning integration in the Arab word. Thus, this study was set up to explore learners’ perspectives of the affordances and challenges surrounding m-learning integration in an undergraduate course, and the impact of students’ gender on the perceived affordances and challenges of m-learning in the UAE.