Teachers' Attitudes toward the Usage of Mobile Devices in EFL Classroom

Abstract

Nowadays, technology is developing in a geometrically progressive manner. Its usage in different social areas is an imperative, rather than a choice. As expected, digital devices are applicable in the educational context, as well. Hence, the scope of the present study is to examine attitudes toward mobile learning among English teachers. For this purpose, we conducted a survey with 159 teachers from both state and private schools as well as universities in Turkey. In general, our results showed that teachers have positive attitudes toward the usage of mobile devices in the ESL learning context. However, there is an almost equal number of teachers who use and who do not use mobile devices and other digital contents in their classrooms. In addition, and according to teachers, there were two main obstacles to using mobile devices in teaching processes – lack of training and students' attitudes. On the other hand, the lowest ranked obstacles were school administrations and pedagogical justification.

Keywords

• English as a foreign language (EFL), English as a second language (ESL), mobile learning, teachers' attitudes, digital learning contents

Kaynakça

1. Cavus, N. & Ibrahim, D. (2009). M-learning: An experiment in using SMS to support learning new English language words. British Journal of Educational Technology, 40, 78–91.
2. Cheng, S.C., Hwang, W.Y., Wu, S.Y., Shadiev, R., & Xie, C.H. (2010). A mobile device and online system with contextual familiarity and its effects on English learning on campus. Educational Technology & Society, 13(3), 93–109.
3. Collis, B. & Moonen, J. (2001). Flexible learning in a digital world: Experiences and expectations. London: Kogan Page.
4. Goggin, G. (2006). Cell phone culture: Mobile technology in everyday life. London: Routledge.
5. Herrington, J., Herrington, A., Mantei, J., Olney, I., & Ferry, B. (2009). New technologies, new pedagogies: Using mobile technologies to develop new ways of teaching and learning. In J. Herrington, A. Herrington, J. Mantei, I. Olney, & B. Ferry (Eds.), New technologies, new pedagogies: Mobile learning in higher education (pp. 1-14). Wollongong: University of Wollongong.
6. Huang, Y. M., Jeng, Y. L., & Huang, T. C. (2009). An educational mobile blogging system for supporting collaborative learning. Educational Technology & Society, 12, 163–175.
7. Huang, J. H., Lin, Y. R., & Chuang, S. T. (2007). Elucidating user behavior of mobile learning: A perspective of the extended technology acceptance model. The Electronic Library, 25, 585–598.
8. Kadyte, V. (2003). Learning can happen anywhere: A mobile system for language. In J. Attewell, G. Da Bormida, M. Sharples, & C. Savill-Smith (Eds.), Proc. of 2nd MLEARN (pp. 50–51), London, UK: Learning and Skills Development Agency.

9. Klopfer, E. & Squire, K. (2008). Environmental detectives: the development of an augmented reality platform for environmental simulations. Press for Educational Technology Research and Development, 56, 203–228.
10. Kukulska-Hulme, A. (2009). Will mobile learning change language learning? ReCALL, 21, 157–165.
11. Kukulska-Hulme, A. & Shield, L. (2008). An overview of mobile assisted language learning: From content delivery to supported collaboration and interaction. ReCALL, 20, 249–252.
12. Liu, T. C., Wang, H. Y., Liang, J. K., Chan, T.W., & Yang, J. C. (2003). Wireless and mobile technologies to enhance teaching and learning. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 19, 371–382.
13. Nah, K. C., White, P., & Sussex, R. (2008). The potential of using a mobile phone to access the internet for learning EFL listening skills within a Korean context. European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning, 20, 331–347.
14. Saran, M., Cagiltay, K., & Seferoglu, G. (2008). Use of mobile phones in language learning: Developing effective instructional materials. In S. Ceballos (Ed.), 5th International Conference on Wireless, Mobile and Ubiquitous Technologies in Education-WMUTE2008 (pp. 39–43). Beijing, China: IEEE Computer Society.
15. Seppala, P. & Alamaki, H. (2003). Mobile learning in teacher training. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 19, 330–335.
16. Thornton, P. & Houser, C. (2005). Using mobile phones in English education in Japan. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 21, 217–228.
17. Yang, S. (2012). Exploring college students' attitudes and self-efficacy of mobile learning. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 11, 148–154.