INSTRUCTORS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE USE OF AN ONLINE INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL IN AN ACADEMIC ENGLISH SETTING IN KUWAIT

ABSTRACT

This study sets out to explore the faculty members’ perceptions of a specific web-based instruction tool (Achieve3000) in a private higher education institute in Kuwait. The online tool provides highly differentiated instruction, which is initiated with a level set at the beginning of the term. The program is used in two consecutive courses as part of the coursework, with the main focus on Academic English skills. For that purpose, 8 faculty members, 6 of which have used it for the first time, have been interviewed. The questions have been designed to seek responses about faculty members’ perceptions of using the branded program in EAP practice, perceptions related to the strengths and weaknesses of the program, opinions about the contribution to student learning, and student attitudes towards web-based instruction. The analysis of the data reveal that participants have positive views towards differentiated instruction and seem to think this is one of the major strengths of the ICT tool. In addition to this instructors think ICT motivates students, adds variety to class, but it makes them question their role in the classroom, and also aggravates the already existing plagiarism endemic among students.