Abstract
Mobile learning has the potential to increase the opportunities to make teaching and learning available beyond the traditional classroom. The main aim of this study was to develop a mobile technologies course delivered online and explore the effects of this online course designed on mobile technologies on the use of ICT skills, attitudes, and views of EFL instructors. While employing mixed methodology, explanatory sequential research design was applied. In this study, participants were selected through convenient sampling and the data were collated through a questionnaire used as pre- and post-tests, followed by semi-structured interviews and class observations. The results of this study indicated that the online training course on mobile technologies had a positive impact on the use of ICT skills and EFL teachers' views in general. Further, attending the mobile technologies course delivered online was very beneficial and effective for the instructors in that it helped them to develop their skills on the use of mobile technologies in English language teaching.
TopIntroduction
Technological advances have affected almost every part of our daily lives, and in education they have tremendously affected teaching and learning. In the last few decades, some teachers have been incorporating technology into teaching to add variety to their teaching approaches and help students increase their motivation. Considering the effects of the use of technological devices in education, Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) has emerged as a growing trend. MALL encourages the idea that learning may be enhanced by using mobile devices and presents the systematic way of how to utilize mobile learning. Mobile learning suggests the mode of learning by using mobile devices like smart phones, and any other portable devices. Mobile learning may also make teaching and learning available beyond the traditional classroom. Li (2008) stated that “… it focuses on the mobility of the learning practice, and emphasizes the interaction between the learner and the learning content, peers or the instructors which can improve effectiveness, flexibility and convenience of learning” (p.694). Hence, learning enhanced through mobile devices has become a trend in the field of digital learning (Jeng, Wu, Huang, Tan & Yang, 2010).
However, as mobile technologies continue to evolve and monumentally shape the nature of teaching and learning, teachers struggle to incorporate technologies and electronic resources into pedagogically sound activities (Recker et al., 2005; Snyder, Dillow, & Hoffman, 2007; Wells, & Lewis, 2006).
Considering the needs of the learners in the 21st century, the integration of technology has become an indispensable part of teaching and learning process, leading to technology enhanced learning and teaching. However, educators, leaders, and policy makers face challenges improving teacher quality and strengthening the teaching profession to meet the needs of all 21st century learners as teachers are not sufficiently prepared for their students who are digital literate and digital native (Aydin, 2013; Hubbard, 2008; Wiebe & Kabata, 2010).
In-service training of the language teachers and keeping up with recent developments in education are of utmost importance in Turkey; thus, many projects including the use of effective technologies have been implemented in schools. One of the recent projects by the government is the FATIH Project, through which the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) aims to implement the effective integration of technology at schools. Forty-two thousand schools were aimed to be equipped with good technological infrastructure and tablets by the end of 2014. However, the huge investments in the purchase of the technological equipment are not observed in the training of the teachers to use these technologies. Hence, some problems have risen in terms of finding the teachers who are qualified enough to teach with technology as training element from this project was missing and this has negatively affected the successful implementation.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Online Course: An online course is the delivery of a series of lessons on a web browser or mobile device, which can be accessed anytime and anyplace. It is designed as an online environment for convenient learning asynchronously.
Mobile Applications: The programs used for mobile devices such as iPad, tablets, etc. are called mobile applications. If students use online programs on computer, they are called web-based tools.
ICT Skills: ICT stands for 'information communication technology'. The use of digital technology includes using a computer, tablet or mobile phone or send an email, which are examples of using basic ICT skills and technology. ICT skills help to develop the knowledge of technology and how it works as practical skills such as coding.
Mobility of Learning: Mobile learning enables learners to use some mobile devices whenever and whenever they want. In this way, the information or the learning process could be carried wherever they go, which is mobility of learning.
Mobile Learning: It is a mode of learning using content assisted by mobile devices like smart phones, IPad or tables.
Perception: Views or opinions stemming from experience and external factors acting on the individual.
Attitude: Attitude is a manner of acting, feeling or thinking. It is also the tendency to react a situation or concept positively or negatively.
Information Communication Technology (ICT): It is related to the technologies used for accessing, gathering, manipulating and presenting or communicating information and such technologies provide access to information through telecommunications.
Mobile Devices: A mobile device is small and portable in order that it can be carried everywhere The examples of mobile devices are mobile phones, smart phones, iPad, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal digital media players (iPods, etc.).
In-Service Training: It is the training given to teachers while they are working as full time. In-service training is what a teacher receives after he has entered to teaching profession and after he has had his education in a university.
Self-Efficacy: Self-efficacy is the belief that we have in our own abilities, to complete a task successfully It is generally related to the concept of self-control and the ability to modulate any behavior to achieve aims.