ICT Tools Research Articles

The Effect of Using Wattpad as an ICT Tool on EFL Students’ Writing Skill

The advancement of technology in the current world is leading to the changing of the learning process in the educational field. This study aimed to explore the use of Wattpad to enhance the writing skills of EFL learners following the integration of ICT for educational purposes based on the effect of the application and the student’s perceptions. The study used a mixed method to examine the data provided both numerical and non-numerical. The samples of this study were 80 participants at a state university in Central Java, Indonesia. The investigation conducted was related to EFL. The data of this study were collected through tests and a survey which was distributed online. This study revealed that there was a significant difference between students who were taught using Wattpad and those who were taught using paper-based writing (sig. 0.016 < α). Moreover, there were positive perceptions from the participants toward the use of Wattpad to enhance writing skills. Wattpad was perceived as a pleasurable media of learning where students could express various emotions, ideas, and thoughts. It gave chances to students to develop their writing. Further, this study is expected to give insight into future research related to the investigation of the use of Wattpad in developing writing skills.

Breaking barriers: uniting Turkish and Greek students through eTwinning collaboration for empathy, understanding, and language anxiety relief

ABSTRACT This study explores the results of an eTwinning project involving four countries, with a focus on collaboration between students from historically distant backgrounds: Turkey and Greece. It primarily aims to foster empathy and understanding, alleviate language anxiety, and enhance foreign language competence among the participants. Using a mixed-method case study approach, data were collected primarily from 7th grade Turkish and 9th grade Greek students. The findings demonstrate notable outcomes, such as significant improvements in English language skills, effective use of ICT tools, enhanced intercultural communicative competence, and a discernible reduction in language anxiety.

Can digital technology promote market participation among smallholder farmers?

Abstract Digital technology holds significant potential for enhancing business efficiency in agricultural marketing. However, empirical research on the use of digital technology among smallholder farmers engaged in staple crop marketing in Sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. Recognizing the pivotal role of digital technology in agriculture, this study aims to analyse and synthesize existing knowledge regarding the impact of mobile phones on market participation among smallholder farmers. Through a comprehensive analysis, we seek to provide a robust understanding that can inform policies and programs aimed at enhancing smallholder market integration. To achieve this objective, we collected cross-sectional data from 360 farmers in southeast Nigeria and implemented a double hurdle model to analyse market participation decisions and the extent of farmers’ involvement in staple crop markets. In addition to traditional econometric methods, we employed propensity score matching to further investigate the impact of mobile phone ownership on market participation. Our analysis revealed that ICT tools, particularly mobile phones and radios, significantly influence both the decision and intensity of market participation among smallholder farmers. Specifically, mobile phones were found to play a crucial role in facilitating access to market pricing information and disseminating knowledge on improved production methods. Given the volatility of farm prices, the timely dissemination of market information through mobile phones is essential for farmers to make informed decisions. With a high percentage of mobile phone ownership and substantial investments in mobile networks in Nigeria, the digitalization of extension services and marketing information delivery systems could catalyse rapid improvements in agribusiness and marketing. This shift towards digital platforms has the potential to address information asymmetry, particularly among smallholder farmers, thereby fostering greater market integration and economic empowerment within rural communities.

ИНОВАЦИИ В ОБУЧЕНИЕТО ПО ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛНО НАПРАВЛЕНИЕ „ИЗОБРАЗИТЕЛНО ИЗКУСТВО“ В ДЕТСКАТА ГРАДИНА

This paper presents innovative pedagogical practices in the field of ‘Fine art’ education with children of the second age group ‘Slanchitse’ in kindergarten ‘Edinstvo Tvorchestvo Krasota’ in the city of Vratsa. These practices are part of the activities of the national program „It’s good in kindergarten“. In the process of pedagogical interaction, teachers use modern educational resources in a technology-rich environment, which significantly contribute to the drawing skills development. Encourages creative, emotilonal and aesthetic experience of the world in the field of fine arts. The included modern ICT and educational tools / Sensory Illuminated Writing Boards and projectors for drawing/ in the process of pedagogical interaction provides an opportunity for cognitive and creative development of children’s capabilities. The visit to an art gallery provides an opportunity for purposeful observation of various objects from reality in a different environment for the child. It provoked his emotional-evaluative attitude towards fine art and the world in general.

Unveiling Influence: Assessing the Effect of ICT Tools on Student Activities through Knowledge Management Processes

Unveiling Influence: Assessing the Effect of ICT Tools on Student Activities through Knowledge Management Processes

Principals And 21st Century Leadership Challenges: A Phenemenological Study

This purpose of this paper is to share the findings of a study which was conducted to figure out the views of principals of Teacher Training Institutions (TTIs) about existing leadership practices that are aligned with the needs and demands of 21st century requirements. The study also explored challenges that Principals encounter in making their institutes according to the vision of 21st century. The study was qualitative in nature and within this paradigm a phenomenological approached was used to collect data from the principals of public sector Teacher Training Institutions (TTIs). At present 27 TTIs are working in different cities of Sindh. Ten Principals of TTIs, 5 males and 5 females were selected using purposive sampling techniques. For data collection individual interviews were conducted. Thematic approach was used for data analyses. The themes emerged were personal challenges and institutional challenges. The findings of the study suggested that principals encounter personal and institutional challenges that are hurdle for them to meet the requirements of 21st century. These challenges included lack of facilities and resources such as internet facility, frequent break downs of electricity, absence of working computers and Science labs. Other challenges included teacher educators’ poor English language skills, low capacity in using ICT tools and low personal commitment. The study recommends to develop the capacity of principals and teacher educators in educational technology and educational research. The study also recommends to renovate computer and science labs of TTIs.

사물인터넷(IoT)에 기반한 움직임 음악교육 시스템 개발 및 활용

The purpose of this research is to suggest the new approach of the music education that utilizes the IoT technology. To achieve this, we explored IoT and examined the AI, ICT and IoT tools currently used in music education. IoT technology offers advantages such as facilitating interactive communication, enabling easier interactions, and expanding the range of physical movements. However, most music education tools currently available on the market are primarily based on AI and ICT. Among the IoT-based tools, there were very few that used movement to teach music. Thus, the IoT-based movement music education system “Muvement” has been invented. This system is composed of the features ‘drawing movement’ and ‘making music'. Unlike traditional music education applications that rely on small screens of phones, tablets, or computer monitors, this technology enables learners to explore and learn musical elements by utilizing a larger space and engaging their entire bodies. Through this, learners can actively explore music with visual and auditory feedback and experience music in a creative way. This extends static and two-dimensional music activities into dynamic and three-dimensional experiences, opening up new possibilities for the future of music education. The technology can be used in various areas of music education such as performance, listening, and creation, as well as in collaborative lessons with other subjects like art and physical education. Outside of school, it can be used as a tool to enhance musical abilities and promote physical and mental health for different age groups, including young children, adults, and the elderly. Furthermore, it offers new approaches in the performing arts field and in rehabilitation therapy programs, expanding its social value and cultural impact. This study introduces the technology and its applications, highlighting the need for further research to concretely reveal the educational and physiological effects and significance of the technology in music education.

Challenges Encountered by Secondary School Teachers in Teaching English Language: The Case of Micheweni District

This study investigated challenges encountered by secondary school teachers in teaching English in public secondary schools of Micheweni District. The study was guided by three specific objectives; to explore challenges related to English language instructional materials, to investigate pedagogical challenges in teaching English, and to examine challenges related to the nature of the students in learning English. A qualitative research approach under a multiple case study design was employed with 36 participants. Focus Group Discussion and interviews were used in data collection. Data were analyzed through content and thematic analysis and presented through quotations and narrations. The findings revealed that the major challenges related to English language instructional materials were shortcomings of English language curriculum content, poor access to ICT facilities which include absence/scarcity of ICT tools, and lack of skills to access ICT tools as well as absence/scarcity of instructional materials. Pedagogical challenges in teaching English were ineffective teaching/learning environment, students’ low level of English Language Proficiency, high teaching load among English language teachers and students’ negative attitude towards learning English. Also, the study found that the nature of students affects teaching/learning English language therefore, teachers should be very careful to find the best teaching strategies regarding individual learning styles. The study concluded that if these challenges were dealt with, English language teachers would teach effectively and students would perform better in their examinations

Keep me posted, but don’t stress me out: how the positive effect of social networking services on civil servants’ information use and political capacities can be attenuated by social media stress

Public policy and administration debates typically assume that ICT tools, including social networking services (SNS), increase the amount of information that is communicated and thus harnessed for policymaking processes. At the same time, behavioral approaches point to the potentially detrimental effects of social media stress resulting from an overexposure to SNS. Because systematic research on the individual-level effects of SNS in policy formulation is rare, this paper explores the effect of SNS on the use of policy-relevant information and, thus, on individual political capacities. A moderated mediation analysis was performed based on survey data from central ministerial bureaucracies in Germany, Italy, and Norway, considering not only the amount of information utilized in legislative drafting but also the variability and concentration of the information sources. The results indicate that SNS positively relate to policy officials’ information use, which, in turn, increases their self-reported political capacities. However, the positive relationship between SNS and both the amount and the variability of information use was found to be diminished when levels of social media stress are high rather than low. The conclusions discuss the implications for civil servants and policymaking.

Design-based approach to technology innovation: Teacher educators’ experiences with tablets as instructional tools in South Africa

The role of higher education in improving educational practices and access through research in technology innovations across the wider spectrum of schooling has especially increased in the information driven 21<sup>st</sup> century lifestyle. Pre-service teacher training plays a significant role in this transformation. For South Africa, research in technology integration has not provided requisite skills for teacher educators to bring about this envisaged transformation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the affordance of the design-based research (DBR) when combined with community of practice (CoP) framework in mitigating context-based technology integration related challenges and professional development in teacher education through the social learning theory. The qualitative paper explores the experiences teacher educators had of using tablets in a DBR as technology integration tools for contextual pedagogical practices. Teacher educators (n = 10), in one university in South Africa were given tablets to use over a year before they responded to semi-structured interviews about their experiences and were also observed as they engaged in both the CoP and in classroom practice. After a thematic analysis, the main results were that the CoP provided space for teacher educators to improve their confidence and technology integration skills. The combination of DBR and the CoP was found to be complementary in bridging the gap between theory and practice for teacher educators. The CoP provided the much needed safe space for professional growth and confidence building for teacher educators. However, learning engagements were limited by inadequacy of ICT tools for the students. In light of this, the implication of the study is that professional development plans for teacher educators in technology integration skills must be context based and subject specific through DBR programs for practical results and sustainability.

Benefits and Challenges of Online Teaching Learning from the Students’ View

Background: Online learning is the major concept in education which converts the traditional educational shape into a new form that transforms in person or physical learning into a virtual approach of learning. It is an alternative to traditional classroom learning and involves using primarily the internet and one or more other technologies. Objective: This study explores the perception of students regarding its benefits and challenges and recommendations. Materials and method: Data were collected from 273 students of 1st and 2nd year MBBS from January 2021 to February 2021 at Enam Medical College, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh, using a predesigned validated questionnaire. Results: The findings of the present study revealed that most of the students lack in academic or institutional knowledge regarding the ICT tools used in online learning process. The benefits included its flexibility regarding the time and place, sharing of information is easy and cost effective and allows mass audiences. Whereas, less effective in practice-based learning, instant feedback is difficult, lack of attentiveness, disturbance of physical health and diminished social interaction were identified as major disadvantages Conclusion: Online learning has its own set of advantages and disadvantages as other teaching methods. The purpose of this study was to assess the current state of online learning activities from the students’ perspective. Delta Med Col J. Jan 2021;9(2): 69-74

DIGITAL PEDAGOGY IN ACTION: INVESTIGATING ICT TOOLS USAGE AND EXPERTISE AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

A teacher in the digital age must be competent in successfully integrating content, pedagogy, and technology in the teaching learning process. The COVID pandemic prepared us to be ready for new and transformative changes in the education system, be it online education, flipped classroom, blended learning, individualized learning, or computer-based adaptive testing. Against this background, the present cross-sectional study examines the use of ICT tools and expertise in using them by elementary school teachers. The sample consisted of 167 elementary school teachers selected randomly and rated their use and expertisein using various ICT tools. The study found that teachers were more proficient in using simple ICT tools and rarely or never used complex ICT tools. Variables such as teacher teaching experience, type of employment had no significant influence on usage and expertise. However, the use and expertise of using ICT tools among teachers working in urban schools is better than that of teachers working in rural schools. In addition, educational qualification was found to have a significant influence on the use and expertiseof using ICT tools. Furthermore, there was a significant positive and moderate correlation between use of ICT tools and expertise in using ICT tools, suggesting that there may be many other influencing factors.

Socio-Economic Profile of KVK Staff and Farmers for Utilization of ICT Tools in Central Uttar Pradesh, India

Socio-Economic Profile of KVK Staff and Farmers for Utilization of ICT Tools in Central Uttar Pradesh, India

Primary Science Teachers’ Current Practices on the Use of the ICT Tools in Their Teaching-Learning in Tsirang District, Bhutan

This quantitative study investigated the primary science teachers’ current practices of ICT tools in teaching primary science in their schools of Tsirang district. The study also aimed to investigate the variations in knowledge, perceptions, challenges faced, and practices of ICT tools based on demographic factors. Data was collected through a survey conducted in 14 primary schools, with a sample size of 92 teachers determined using the Krejcie and Morgan Table. The questionnaire, consisting of 29 items, had a reliable Cronbach's coefficient alpha of 0.85. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS v.22, employing descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed a high level of knowledge and perception about ICT tools among teachers, with mean scores of 3.87(SD=.65) and 4.50(SD=.38). Similarly, the use of ICT tools by teachers and challenges encountered were also observed at the high level with mean score of 3.55(SD=.97) and, 3.89(SD=.72). However, there was no significant gender-based differences in knowledge, but found notable distinctions in perceptions. Moreover, the study identified that knowledge, perceptions, and challenges were strong predictors (Model Fit: R2=.560, f (3,88) =6.261, p<.05) of teachers' use of ICT tools in teaching primary science. Future researchers may employ robust designs, like mix-mode research, to delve into teachers' ICT use comprehensively, exploring causation and additional variables.

ASCERTAIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTUBE USER FARMERS AND THEIR UTILITY PERCEPTION

The study was conducted in Maharashtra's Parbhani district, 120 farmers who were users of YouTube were surveyed. The results show that the majority of respondents belonged to middle age group having high school level education belonged to medium family size with small size land holding having low social participation with high extension contact, medium level innovativeness, medium level source of information who possess good network connectivity and medium level for possession of ICT tools. The study aimed to understand the relationship between various independent variables and the utility perception of YouTube. The analysis revealed noteworthy relationships between independent variables and utility perception. The variables namely education, social participation, extension contact, innovativeness, source of information, network connectivity and possession of ICT tools were positively and significantly related to utility perception of YouTube. Whereas, family size and land holding did not show any significant relationship with utility perception of YouTube. However, age of the respondents was significantly negative relationship with utility perception of YouTube.

Language for Specific Purposes and Audio Description Tasks: A Case Study

In the Foreign Language (FL) classroom, video description and dubbing have recently been introduced for the development of communicative skills in various types of didactic methods (Vermeulen and Ibáñez 2014, 2017; Talaván 2020; Ávila-Cabrera and Rodríguez-Arancón 2021). This paper offers an innovative didactic proposal of Audio Description (AD) in the English for Tourism (ET) classroom. It supports the hypothesis that authentic tasks enhance communicative skills in LSP (Language for Specific Purposes) education (Melnichuk et al. 2017). It presents a quasi-experimental study of student performance in two different productive tasks (writing and speaking). The study follows a Task-Based Learning (TBL) approach and addresses a group of 119 students within an undergraduate program of ET (B2 level) at a Spanish distance-education university (UNED). As a post-task, a twofold rubric, designed in a previous teaching project, scored and analyzed student writing and speaking responses to an AD script of a mute video about a touristic place of their choice. Results show that implementing an AD task in the LSP classroom had a positive effect on students’ marks in their final test. In addition, the number of students who completed the writing task was around 50% greater than those who completed the speaking task. Introducing ICT tools in the LSP classroom seems to be positive, and it will be argued that developing digital technologies, such as mobile apps, may be a necessary step to foster future professionals’ language performance and competences.

Evaluation of Telemedicine Experience: Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Care

Background. To date, one of the key tasks of our time, which has yet to be solved, is to provide medical services remotely using constantly advancing information and communication technologies. It is medical sciences that urgently needs ICT tools for various scopes: providing medical care in remote regions, organizing continuous education of medical personnel, managing electronic patient records, implementing mobile diagnostic devices, and managing network of branches or medical facilities at the institutional level. Telemedicine is a necessity, especially for patients with comorbid chronic diseases like cancer. Objective. To evaluate utilization of digital technologies at various stages of cancer care, through the example of artificial intelligence. Materials and methods. A systematic literature review was conducted using PRISMA. The search was carried out in such databases as Elibrary, PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar by keywords “Telemedicine in oncology”, “COVID-19 in oncology”, “Artificial Intelligence”, “Digital Technologies”, “Data Personalization”, and “Teleoncology”. Publications not primarily focused on evaluating telemedicine technologies in oncology were excluded from the review process. Results. The literature review was conducted to consider the rapid integration of telemedicine since the pandemic, the risks associated with the widespread use of telemedicine in oncology, and the use of artificial intelligence in oncology, including the early detection and diagnosis of cancer. In conclusion, it is noted that the digitalization of healthcare radically changes the clinical workflow by expanding the possibilities for obtaining information from both medical staff and patients. Experience-based medicine is being replaced by an evidence-based, patient-centered approach. The rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies will continue to have a great impact on the oncology in the near future. Both medical staff and scientific community must be prepared for the coming changes.

The Use of ICT Tools in Teaching English Literature : a Meta Analysis Study

The Use of ICT Tools in Teaching English Literature : a Meta Analysis Study

Enhancing visual and plastic education training: a blended learning and flipped classroom approach

This article explores whether the implementation of the B-Learning (BL) and Flipped Classroom (FC) methodologies, using the ICT tool Edpuzzle, in the mandatory subject of Didactics of Plastic Expression in the Early Childhood Education teacher training programme leads to improvements in their education as future teachers. To address this investigation, two different pedagogical interventions were proposed: Unit 1 (U1), implementing BL, and Unit 2 (U2) through traditional lectures. For the analysis, a qualitative methodology using the focus group technique was employed. The results revealed high satisfaction among students regarding U1, implying that the use of ICT through the implementation of BL and FC methodologies has created a more dynamic and enriching educational environment, thereby enhancing their learning.

Examining the relationship and predictors of farmer’s awareness on ICT tools in agriculture: A correlation and regression analysis

Examining the relationship and predictors of farmer’s awareness on ICT tools in agriculture: A correlation and regression analysis