Teaching Through Digital Media: Acceptance and use of Technology Among the High School Teachers for Inclusive Education in Kerala During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The present study applies the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to assess the user intentions and subsequent use of digital media among high school teachers to provide inclusive education in Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was conducted using purposive sampling; 394 responses were collected from high school teachers at various levels and age groups, who were mostly reported to be utilizing Google Meet, WhatsApp, Zoom, and Skype for teaching. As the data were not normally distributed, non-parametric tests, including the Mann- Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test, were performed to investigate the extent of digital media use among high school teachers across categories of gender, age, type of school, average monthly income, locality, and relationship status. Spearman’s Rank Order correlation coefficient was calculated to examine the relationship between various components of digital media use among the participants. Findings: The study explored that most teachers are using digital platforms extensively for online teaching, depending on the available digital facilities and digital literacy of the teachers and the students and the availability of IT support from the schools. Descriptive measures demonstrated that the most commonly used digital media app among high school teachers is Google meet (87.1%) followed by WhatsApp (79.7%). Pairwise comparisons significantly higher PE, EE, UB, SI, FC, and total technology use among participants below 39 years (p<.01). Government school teachers were found to have higher scores for UTAUT variables; except for BI, which was higher among unaided school teachers (p<.01). Engaged participants were found to have higher UB and total digital use when compared to married and single participants (p<.01). Spearman’s rank-order correlation suggesteda significant positive correlation amongst the UTAUT variables; total digital use was positively correlated with all the components (p<.01). Novelty: The study has incorporated the Unified Theory of Acceptance (UTAUT) in an attempt to uncover the role of digital media in facilitating inclusive education during the covid-19 pandemic. Both descriptive and inferential statistical measures are employed to provide an objective stance on the education trends and educator practices brought in by the ‘new normal.’ Keywords: COVID19; High School Teachers; Inclusive Education; Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT); Digital Media