A Study Of Middle School English Teachers’ Perceptions Of Using Mobile Phones In Mobile Learning

The increasing popularity and the widespread of mobile phones are leading to awareness of their utilization in the education field.While using mobile phones in mobile learning has been investigated actively abroad,there are only a few pieces of research in this field in China’s mainland,especially in junior schools and senior high schools English teachers’ perceptions about using mobile phones in mobile learning.In this study,a questionnaire that was designed and developed in a previous study of scholars Süleyman Nihat Sad and ?zlem G?ktas(2014)was adopted as the research instrument.Three dimensions were included in this questionnaire: strengths of using mobile phones in education as mobile learning tools,limitations of using mobile phones in education as mobile learning tools,and attitudes of using mobile phones in mobile learning.Totally 113 middle school English teachers participated in the study.Besides,an interview was conducted with six middle schools English teachers to explore the main factors that affected their perceptions of using mobile phones for mobile learning.The present study focuses on three issues:(1)What are middle school English teachers’ perceptions of using mobile phones in mobile learning?(2)Are there any significant differences in perceptions among English teachers with different demographic characteristics such as gender,age,work experience,and educational background?(3)What are the main factors influencing middle school English teachers’ perceptions of using mobile phones in mobile learning?Through researching,the following findings have been found,(1)though middle school English teachers were neutral about the strengths or were tending to agree with the limitations of using mobile phones in mobile learning,they were against the actual use of mobile phones.(2)Of all the teachers with different demographic features,only significant differences between groups appeared in the section of strengths in teachers of different working years and different educational backgrounds.(3)English teachers reflected that though factors influencing their perceptions of using mobile phones in mobile learning are various,they can be mainly divided into four aspects,that is teachers themselves,students,schools,and society.Among all these aspects,they believed their mastery of using mobile phones in helping teaching as well as learning and students’ self-discipline ability have the most significant impact on their perceptions.Finally,according to the results of the questionnaires and the interview findings,some suggestions are proposed to teachers,students,schools,and society.In terms of teachers,it is advisable for them to grow awareness and further positive attitudes towards the concept of mobile learning through mobile phones,accordingly learning new technical knowledge to improve their mastery of using mobile phones in helping teaching and learning is imperative.When it comes to the students,in order to reduce some middle school English teachers’ concern about the limitations of using mobile phones,it is particularly necessary for students to enhance their self-discipline ability.As far as schools are concerned,the focus is to promote the rational use of mobile phones in learning by providing technical support and making supportive policies.When it comes to society,foster public acceptance of using mobile phones and perfect the infrastructure for using mobile phones are useful.