Critical appraisal of a research paper: Wyatt, M. (2010). An English teacher’s developing self- efficacy beliefs in using groupwork, System, (4), 603-613. (Published)
This paper aims to critique and evaluate, focusing on the issues of validity and reliability, a paper conducted by Mark Wyatt who is a professor at the University of Portsmouth. This paper was part of a larger study of an unpublished doctoral dissertation (Wyatt, 2008), which investigated how five teachers developed over the duration of their three-year course, with an emphasis on their growth in practical knowledge and self-efficacy with regards to various dimensions. In this paper particularly, the focus is on one participant who is an in-service part-time BA TESOL student in the Middle East working with young learners. This was a case study focusing on the developments of an English teacher’s self-efficacy (TSE) beliefs in using groupwork.
Keywords: Critical appraisal, English Teachers, System, Wyatt, developing self- efficacy, groupwork, research paper
Evaluating the Awareness and Perceptions of English Teachers in using E-Learning Tools for Teaching in Saudi High Schools (Published)
The study was carried out to evaluate English teachers’ awareness and perceptions in using e-learning tools. In this study, a total of 22 English teachers from Yanbu educational department participated in the online survey. The majority of the participants (77.3%) are male. Different e-learning parameters were measured like; skill in using educational technology, teachers’ personal use of technology, type of technology used in the classroom, e-learning confidence, barriers to e-learning, perceived effectiveness of e-learning, and willingness to adopt e-learning tools for teaching. The result of the study showed that English teachers are aware and familiar with popular e-learning tools and perceived its usefulness in teaching and learning. Moreover, teachers were faced with some barriers that prevent them to employ technology in the classroom like; lack of reliable Internet connectivity, lack of training, inadequate devices for both teachers and students, and shortage of class time needed to integrate technology in classroom. The study recommends among other things to provide training programs, workshops and seminars to improve teachers’ skills in integrating technology. Furthermore, it suggest to equip schools with a reliable Internet connectivity and technology devices and to provide teachers with enough time to prepare for using e-learning tools.
Keywords: E-Learning Tools, English Teachers, Perceptions, Saudi Arabia, awareness