A Survey On The Application Of Multimedia CAI In English Teaching In Junior High School

Computer based multimedia is widely used in classrooms of schools and universities, which has been an inseparable part of hardware in classroom. Researchers have investigated computer assisted instruction (CAI) from various aspects, including its significance in promoting teaching and learning, pedagogical principles guiding implementation as well as potential risks and problems in practice; theoretical suggestions were also put forward by some researchers. This study was carried on at a junior high school aiming at unfolding the application of multimedia CAI in English tuition in a specific context in which implementation gap of the new curriculum reform has been witnessed in Central China.This study is developed from two aspects:how did multimedia CAI work at A school? What were teachers’attitudes towards and perceptions of multimedia CAI at A school? Two researching instruments were used for data collection:in-class observation and interview. The results of observations are presented by observation reports, reflections, and scoring according to Standards of Junior High School English Classroom Teaching Assessment (English New Curriculum Standard, 2011) while interviews are used to find out the respondents’attitudes to and perceptions of multimedia CAI.It was found that the application of multimedia CAI at A school was a new development of audio-visual method in English teaching, in which most of changes remained in the aspect of teaching media. It posed influence on both teachers and students, namely, making English more enjoyable and appealing to students by modality presentation, offering convenience to teachers in saving blackboard design while adding workload in courseware authoring, etc.. Strong multimedia effect was reflected at this school due to learners’individual differences between grades, within one grade and one class as well. The problem of classroom management became more prominent as a side effect of multimedia effect, in particular, teachers with "least able" learners suffered the most. Generally, teachers took a positive and optimistic attitude towards the integration of multimedia CAI with their English teaching.It suggests that teachers should be provided successive cultivation of applying multimedia CAI to facilitate teaching and training and hands-on experience on better implementation of this teaching approach, especially senior teachers. To make multimedia CAI fully play its role and realize its initiative of fostering meaningful learning, the external teaching environment must be improved accommodating quality-oriented education. Students’ mental and physical health calls for more attention in the present context.