Mobile devices in the classroom: Emirati students´ perceptions of usage and policies

This paper presents preliminary results based on a survey administrated to students enrolled in an undergraduate course offered at a Higher Education Institution in the United Arab Emirates. The survey is part of larger project that sought to investigate student and instructor perceptions of mobile devices use in the classroom and policies to help minimize disruptions caused by those devices during class teaching. Findings reported in the paper focus on students´ perceptions only. Eighteen Emiratis completed and returned the survey. Main results show an overall tendency to rare use of mobile devices during class time to perform both content and non-content related activities; however, none of the students had their mobile devices turned off. Results suggest that students´ opinions need be taken into account when developing policies for mobile device usage in the classroom due to students´ personal needs and expectations. Turning off mobile devices during class time does not seem an appropriate policy for this particular group of students.