EVALUATION OF THE USE OF ICT IN ENGLISH CLASSES IN ISFAHAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Traditional teaching and learning paradigms have been shaken by the impact of the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into educational practices. Today, many schools in Iran have integrated ICT in their English classes with the aim of improving teaching and learning processes. This study attempted to investigate the efficiency of the use of ICT in English classes of Isfahan junior high schools as compared with conventional classes without ICT. The participants of this study were 100 students of junior high school in two conventional and ICT-based groups of 50 each. There were also 10 teachers of junior high school who taught English in ICT-based classes. This study employed a mixed methods design and the data were collected through class observations, questionnaire, interviews and tests. The results revealed that employing ICT tools in English classes of Isfahan junior high schools did not create significant differences as compared with conventional classes. Based on the results, it can be concluded that for employing ICT in English classes, its basic requirements such as teachers ICT training, appropriate equipment, school administration support and teachers’ and students’ interest in modern technology should be fulfilled in order to achieve the desired outcomes.