A Research On Challenges And Opportunities In Using Plasma Television In Efl Class. The Case Of Beha Biftu And Robe Secondary Schools.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate challenges and opportunities in using plasma TV in EFL classroom. The study explores in detail about the opportunities that could both students and English language teachers get when they use the educational technology. It also examines challenges that both students and language teachers face in using the technology in English language classroom. The study became significant as nowadays most schools stopped using plasma television. It was to identify the problems that affect the utilization of the technology and it was to identify opportunities that gain as results of assimilation of the technology for teaching learning process. The study employed a Mixed Research approach so as to collect both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. From two Government schools that contained totally 1433 grade nine students, following Simple Random Sampling (SRS), 215 grade nine students were selected. Whereas following Purposive Sampling 7 English language teachers from two secondary schools participated in the research. To gather relevant data, grade 9 students‟ text book, teacher‟s guide and the plasma TV lessons and other relevant documents were analyzed. Both plasma based lessons and none plasma TV based classrooms were observed. Close ended questionnaires were distributed to 215 students and 7 grade 9 English languages teachers were using Semi-structured interview. The data gathered through document analysis and semi-structured interviews were analyzed and categorized into themes or presented in descriptive way. While the data collected using Questionnaires and Observations analyzed using tables and Percentages. From analyses these tools conclusions were made. The finding of these tools revealed that the proper utilization of plasma TV instruction has a great potential in boosting the quality of education and providing equity learning. In contrast to these, challenges in using the device were also identified. The results of the study show that most of the challenges are technical problems which hinder not to use the device effectively. And moreover this study came up with alternative ways of using plasma TV in EFL classrooms which might reduce the drawbacks/challenges that mitigate effective utilization of the educational technology