Barriers Teachers Face in using Information and Communication Technology in EFL Classroom at Duhok University
Keywords:
ICT, ICT integration into EFL classes, barriers, EFL teachers Duhok University
Abstract
The growth of information and communication technologies (ICT) has considerably altered teaching and learning processes in higher education. Although ICT has the potential to improve the educational system to a great extent, English departments in the university of Duhok seem to be incapable to achieve these benefits because of specific obstacles. This paper investigates the barriers faced by the teachers at English departments in the University of Duhok in integrating ICT tools in teaching the EFL in classrooms. This study aims at determining the reasons teachers do not use ICT in classrooms. A total of thirty-four English teachers from The College of Basic Education and The College of Languages were involved. A closed-ended questionnaire was distributed and interviews were conducted. The results revealed that the teachers are willing to use ICT in their lessons, but they face many barriers. The main barriers are lack of access to ICT resources, lack of access to the internet inside the classroom, lack of training, insufficient technical support. Moreover, lack of institutional encouragement is another discouraging factor for the teacher to use ICT. In addition, this paper also offers a number of recommendations to reduce these barriers and maximize the beneficial use of ICT in education.
References
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26. Mumtaz, S. (2000). Factors affecting teachers’ use of information and communications technology: A review of the literature. Journal of Information Technology for Teacher Education, 9(3), 319- 341.
27. Nilsson, S. (2018). ICT in the EFL classroom: cherished challenges: A qualitative interview study with six Junior High School English teachers in Sweden.
28. Pelgrum, W. J. (2001). Obstacles to the integration of ICT in education: results from a worldwide educational assessment. Computers & education, 37(2), 163-178.
29. Pelgrum, W. J., & Law, N. W. Y. (2003). ICT in education around the world: Trends, problems and prospects. UNESCO: International Institute for Educational Planning.
30. Piotrowski, C., & Vodanovich, S. J. (2000). Are the reported barriers to Internet-based instruction warranteed: a synthesis of recent research. Education, 121(1), 48-48.
31. Salehi, H., & Salehi, Z. (2012). Integration of ICT in language teaching: Challenges and barriers. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on e-Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning (IC4E, 2012), IPEDR (Vol. 27, pp. 215-219).
32. Sang, G., Valcke, M., Broak, J. V., & Tondeun, J. (2010). Student teachers’ thinking processes and ICT integration: predictors of prospective teaching behaviours with educational technology. Computers & Education, 54, 103-112.
33. Sicilia, C. (2005). The challenges and benefits to teachers' practices in constructivist learning environments supported by technology (pp. 1-104). McGill University.
34. Tammelin, M. (2004). Introducing a collaborative network-based learning environment into foreign language and business communication teaching: Action research in Finnish higher education.Teaching and Teacher Education, 24(4), pp.1015-1028.
35. Tzotzou, M. (2018). Integrating Web 2.0 technologies into EFL learning in the Greek state-school context: A mixed-method study. Research Papers in Language Teaching and Learning, 9(1), 32-55.
36. UNESCO. (2002).Information Communication Technology in education: A curriculum for schools and programme for teacher development. Paris, France: UNESCO.
37. Vi, V. T. (2005). Advantages and disadvantages of using computer network technology in language teaching. JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Foreign Languages, 61-66.
38. Yilmaz, N.P. (2011). Evaluation of the Technology Integration Process in the Turkish Education System. Contemporary Educational Technology, vol.2, no.1.
39. Yunus, M. M. (2007). Malaysian ESL teachers’ use of ICT in their classrooms: expectations and realities. ReCALL, 19(1), 79-95.
2. Azmi, N. (2017). The benefits of using ICT in the EFL classroom: From perceived utility to potential challenges. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 7(1), 111-118.
3. Barri, M. A. (2013). The integration of technology into school curriculum in Saudi Arabia: Factors affecting technology implementation in the classroom. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas).
4. Bingimlas, K. A. (2009). Barriers to the successful integration of ICT in teaching and learning environments: A review of the literature. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 5 (3), 235‐ 245.
5. British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) (2004). A Review of the Research Literature on Barriers to The Uptake of ICT by Teachers. Retrived from http://www.becta.org.uk
6. Buabeng-Andoh, C. (2012). Factors influencing teachers adoption and integration of informationand communication technology into teaching: A review of the literature. International Journalof Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT), 8 (1).
7. Chen, Y. L. (2008). A mixed-method study of EFL teachers’ Internet use in language instruction. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24(4), 1015-1028.
8. Coogan, P. (2005). When worlds collide: ICTs, English teachers and high stakes assessment. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Auckland).
9. Cuban, L. (1993). Computers meet classroom: Classroom wins. Teachers College Record, 95,185-210.
10. Dang, X. T., Nicholas, H., & Lewis, R. (2012). Key barriers to ICT uptake in foreign language teaching in Vietnam: A case study. INTED2012 Proceedings, 4266-4274.
11. Daniels J.S. (2002). “Foreword” in Information and Communication Technology in Education–A Curriculum for Schools and Programme for Teacher Development. Paris:UNESCO
12. Davies, G., & Hewer, S. (2009). Introduction to new technologies and how they can contribute to language learning and teaching. Module 1.1. In G. Davies (Ed.), Information and Communications Technology for Language Teachers (ICT4LT), Slough, Thames Valley University.
13. Elshaikhi, F. S. (2015). Integrating information technology in Libyan higher education.(Doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas).
14. Ertmer, P. A. (1999). Addressing first- and second-order barriers to change: strategies for technology integration. Educational Technology Research and Development, 47(4), pp. 47-61.
15. Gamlo, N. H. (2014). EFL Teachers Use/non-use of ICT at a University in Saudi Arabia. (Doctoral dissertation. University of Warwick).
16. Gee,J.P.(2011).Language and learning in the digitalage. NewYork: Routledge.
17. Gomes, C. (2005). Integration of ICT in science teaching: A study performed in Azores, Portugal. Recent research developments in learning technologies, 13(3), 63-71.
18. Hew, K. F., & Brush, T. (2007). Integrating technology into K-12 teaching and learning: Current knowledge gaps and recommendations for future research. Educational technology research and development, 55(3), 223-252.
19. Hewa Balisane, H. (2015). Journal of Education and Practice. Investigation of Teacher’ Attitudes towards Computer Use in Primary Education in Kurdistan,Vol 6, 36-50.
20. Hue, L. T., & Ab Jalil, H. (2013). Attitudes towards ICT Integration into Curriculum and Usage among University Lecturers in Vietnam. International Journal of Instruction, 6(2), 53-66.
21. Kareem, N. N. (2017). The Importance of using Information Communication Technology for learning and Teaching the English Language in Kurdistan Iraq. Valparaiso: valparaiso University.
22. Khan, M., Hossain, S., Hasan, M.,& Clement, C.K.(2012).Barriers to the introduction of ICT into education in developing countries: the example of Bangladesh. International Journal of instruction,5(2),66-80.
23. Kumar, N., Rose, R.C. and D’SIiva, J.L. (2008). Teachers’ Readiness to Use Technology in the Classroom: An Empirical Study. European Journal of Scientific Research. 21(4), pp. 603-616.
24. Lim, C. P. & Khine, M. S. (2006). Managing teachers‟ barriers to ICT integration in Singapore schools. Journal of Technology and Teaching Education, 14 (1), pp. 97-125.
25. Lin, J. M.C., Wang, P.Y., & Lin, I.C., (2012). Pedagogy technology: A two-dimensional model for teachers’ ICT integration. British Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 43, pp.97-108.
26. Mumtaz, S. (2000). Factors affecting teachers’ use of information and communications technology: A review of the literature. Journal of Information Technology for Teacher Education, 9(3), 319- 341.
27. Nilsson, S. (2018). ICT in the EFL classroom: cherished challenges: A qualitative interview study with six Junior High School English teachers in Sweden.
28. Pelgrum, W. J. (2001). Obstacles to the integration of ICT in education: results from a worldwide educational assessment. Computers & education, 37(2), 163-178.
29. Pelgrum, W. J., & Law, N. W. Y. (2003). ICT in education around the world: Trends, problems and prospects. UNESCO: International Institute for Educational Planning.
30. Piotrowski, C., & Vodanovich, S. J. (2000). Are the reported barriers to Internet-based instruction warranteed: a synthesis of recent research. Education, 121(1), 48-48.
31. Salehi, H., & Salehi, Z. (2012). Integration of ICT in language teaching: Challenges and barriers. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on e-Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning (IC4E, 2012), IPEDR (Vol. 27, pp. 215-219).
32. Sang, G., Valcke, M., Broak, J. V., & Tondeun, J. (2010). Student teachers’ thinking processes and ICT integration: predictors of prospective teaching behaviours with educational technology. Computers & Education, 54, 103-112.
33. Sicilia, C. (2005). The challenges and benefits to teachers' practices in constructivist learning environments supported by technology (pp. 1-104). McGill University.
34. Tammelin, M. (2004). Introducing a collaborative network-based learning environment into foreign language and business communication teaching: Action research in Finnish higher education.Teaching and Teacher Education, 24(4), pp.1015-1028.
35. Tzotzou, M. (2018). Integrating Web 2.0 technologies into EFL learning in the Greek state-school context: A mixed-method study. Research Papers in Language Teaching and Learning, 9(1), 32-55.
36. UNESCO. (2002).Information Communication Technology in education: A curriculum for schools and programme for teacher development. Paris, France: UNESCO.
37. Vi, V. T. (2005). Advantages and disadvantages of using computer network technology in language teaching. JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Foreign Languages, 61-66.
38. Yilmaz, N.P. (2011). Evaluation of the Technology Integration Process in the Turkish Education System. Contemporary Educational Technology, vol.2, no.1.
39. Yunus, M. M. (2007). Malaysian ESL teachers’ use of ICT in their classrooms: expectations and realities. ReCALL, 19(1), 79-95.
Published
2023-04-23
How to Cite
Shaimaa S. Yaseen, & Saaed A. Saaed. (2023). Barriers Teachers Face in using Information and Communication Technology in EFL Classroom at Duhok University. International Journal on Humanities and Social Sciences, (44), 125-139. https://doi.org/10.33193/IJoHSS.44.2023.556
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Copyright (c) 2023 Shaimaa S. Yaseen , Saaed A. Saaed
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