Integrating Digital Tools Into Competency-based Elt Programs In Mali: Opportunities And Barriers
Keywords:
Digital tools, competency-based ELT, Mali, teacher training, educational barriersAbstract
This study investigates the integration of digital tools into competency-based English Language Teaching (ELT) programs in Mali, with the aim of identifying the opportunities and barriers associated with their use. It employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews, surveys, focus groups, and classroom observations to gather perspectives. A total of 50 participants, including ELT teachers, students, and school administrators from urban and semi-urban areas, contribute to the data collection. The findings demonstrated two key results: first, while teachers recognize the potential of digital tools to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes, they face significant barriers, such as inadequate training, limited device access, and unreliable internet connectivity. Second, students express a strong interest in using digital tools, particularly multimedia resources, but encounter challenges related to high internet costs and unequal access to devices, exacerbating the digital divide. The study highlighted the need for targeted teacher training, infrastructure improvements, and policies promoting equitable access to technology to overcome these barriers. While substantial challenges remain, the integration of digital tools into Mali’s competency-based ELT programs offers significant opportunities for improving language-learning outcomes, provided that systemic issues are addressed.
References
Ally, M. (2008). Mobile learning: Transforming the delivery of education and training. Athabasca University Press.
Ally, M., & Wark, N. (2019). Digital learning for development in Africa: It is not just about technology. The African Journal of Information Systems, 11(1), Article 1.
Bingimlas, K. A. (2009). Barriers to the successful integration of ICT in teaching and learning environments: A review of the literature. European Journal of Educational Studies, 1(2), 235-245.
Chapelle, C. A. (2003). English language learning and technology: Lectures on applied linguistics in the age of information and communication technology. John Benjamins.
Chinnery, G. M. (2006). Emerging technologies: Going to the MALL: Mobile assisted language learning. Language Learning & Technology, 10(1), p.9–16.
Chiu, C. Y., Sadaf, A., & Mohammad, N. (2013). The impact of digital tools on vocabulary acquisition in language learning. Educational Technology & Society, 16(4), p.80-89.
Cohen, D. (2015). Barriers to the adoption of educational technology: The role of infrastructure in teaching and learning. Computers & Education, 82, p.43-57.
Cox, M. J., Abbott, C., Webb, M., Blakely, B., & Beauchamp, G. (2003). ICT and pedagogy: A review of the research literature. Department for Education and Skills.
Cuban, L. (2001). Oversold and underused: Computers in the classroom. Harvard University Press.
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), p.319–340.
Egbert, J. (2005). CALL essentials: Principles and practice in CALL classrooms. TESOL Publications.
Egbert, J., Chao, C., & Hanson-Smith, E. (2020). Call environments: Research, practice, and critical issues. Routledge.
Friesen, N. (2017). The textbook and the lecture: Education in the age of new media. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Garrison, D. R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. The Internet and Higher Education, 2(2-3), p.87–105.
Gorski, P. (2017). Reaching and teaching students in poverty: Strategies for erasing the opportunity gap (2nd ed.). Teachers College Press.
Hamel, F. (2020). The challenges of integrating technology in classrooms: A socio-economic perspective. Journal of Educational Development, 10(4), p.12–24.
Hepp, P., Hinostroza, E., Laval, C., & Rehbein, L. (2015). Technology in schools: Education, ICT, and the knowledge society. Computers & Education, 14(4), p.377-388.
Hockly, N. (2012). Digital literacy: A key to success in the 21st century. English Teaching Professional, 83, p.18-22.
Isaacs, S. (2021). Digital learning in Sub-Saharan Africa: Barriers and policy recommendations. UNESCO-UNEVOC.
Isaacs, S., & Hollow, D. (2012). ICT in education in sub-Saharan Africa: A literature review. Education Development Center.
Kessler, G. (2018). Technology and the future of language teaching. Foreign Language Annals, 51(1), p.205–218.
Kim, H. J., Rueckert, D., Kim, S., & Seo, H. (2014). The effects of technology-enhanced language learning on English language learners: A meta-analysis of research. Language Learning & Technology, 18(1), p.1-13.
Kim, H., Lee, J., & Zhang, S. (2019). Digital literacy for the 21st century: Implications for language educators. TESOL Quarterly, 53(2), p.399–425.
Koehler, M. J., & Mishra, P. (2009). What is technological pedagogical content knowledge? Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 9(1), p.60-70.
Kukulska-Hulme, A. (2012). Mobile learning: The next generation. Routledge.
Ministry of Education of Mali. (2017). National education strategy: Competency-based curriculum framework. Ministry of Education.
Ng’ambi, D., & Bozalek, V. (2015). Emerging technologies and changing learning/teaching practices. Open Learning, 30(2), 141–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680513.2015.1020314
Otieno, D. (2020). Embedding digital literacy into competency-based curricula: Strategies and challenges. In A. Yusuf (Ed.), Digital Education in Africa (pp. 45–59).
Selwyn, N. (2011). Education and technology: Key issues and debates. Continuum.
Selwyn, N. (2016). Is technology good for education? Polity Press.
Tondeur, J., van Braak, J., & Ertmer, P. A. (2017). Understanding the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and technology use in education: A review of the literature. Computers & Education, 58(4), p.122-134.
UNESCO. (2019). Digital literacy and education in Africa. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000391159
UNESCO. (2019). Global education monitoring report: Migration, displacement, and education – Building bridges, not walls. Paris: UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000375700
Unwin, T., Stevens, D., & Park, H. (2018). The impact of technology on education in sub-Saharan Africa: A research review. Open University Press.
Van Dijk, J. (2020). The digital divide. Polity Press.
Vanderplank, R. (2016). The role of multimedia in second language listening comprehension: An overview. Language Teaching, 49(2), p.268-281.
Venezky, R. L., & O’Rourke, M. (2013). The digital divide and education: A study of how schools can make use of the internet. Educational Testing Service.
Warschauer, M. (2004). Technology and equity: A comparative analysis of educational technology in the United States and developing nations. Educational Technology & Society, 7(1), p.19-30.
Warschauer, M. (2011). Learning in the cloud: How (and why) to transform schools with digital media. Teachers College Press.
World Bank. (2020). Mali: Digital foundations and the future of education. Washington, DC: World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/mali/overview