Schedule: 2009-09-10 (16:30 - 18:00)
Poster Presentations and Commercial Exhibition (Exhibition Hall)

Title: Understanding Arabic Language Teachers’ Beliefs about ICT: A Case Study
Authors: Mariam Attia
Abstract: This poster highlights the emerging findings of an ongoing research project which aims to explore Arabic language teachers’ beliefs and attitudes towards using technology in their teaching. Due to the situated nature of the project, I chose to implement a multiple case study design, whereupon three in-service teachers were selected to represent different perspectives on integrating technology into teaching Arabic as foreign language. The poster presents the profile of one of the teachers based on a comprehensive within-case analysis of her data, and guided by former research on language teacher cognition (e.g. Borg 2006; Lam, 2000; Woods, 1996). As an early adopter of ICT in her teaching, I shed light on my informant’s stated beliefs and attitudes towards technology, as well as their relationship with her actual practice. The impact of her former schooling experience and earlier professional training on her perceptions and use of ICT are also addressed. Furthermore, contextual factors are identified with specific emphasis on their role in influencing both teacher cognition and classroom practice. As implementation of technology takes place within an Arabic language teaching setting, I give particular attention to my teacher’s pedagogical theories associated with using technology in teaching the Arabic language, an area which remains under-researched and in need of further investigation.
Keywords: Arabic language; Arabic language teacher; teacher cognition; pedagogical beliefs; technology use; case study

Main topic: Catering for Less Widely Used and Taught Languages in CALL

Biodata: Mariam Attia is currently a PhD student at the University of Manchester, UK. In her thesis, she explores teacher cognition in relation to using ICT in teaching Arabic as a foreign language. Previously, she has worked as an Arabic language teacher at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Type of presentation Poster

Paper category (Other)

Target educational sector Higher education

Language of delivery English

EU-funded project No

Schedule:	2009-09-10 (16:30 - 18:00) Poster Presentations and Commercial Exhibition (Exhibition Hall)
Title:	Understanding Arabic Language Teachers’ Beliefs about ICT: A Case Study
Authors:	Mariam Attia
Abstract:	This poster highlights the emerging findings of an ongoing research project which aims to explore Arabic language teachers’ beliefs and attitudes towards using technology in their teaching. Due to the situated nature of the project, I chose to implement a multiple case study design, whereupon three in-service teachers were selected to represent different perspectives on integrating technology into teaching Arabic as foreign language. The poster presents the profile of one of the teachers based on a comprehensive within-case analysis of her data, and guided by former research on language teacher cognition (e.g. Borg 2006; Lam, 2000; Woods, 1996). As an early adopter of ICT in her teaching, I shed light on my informant’s stated beliefs and attitudes towards technology, as well as their relationship with her actual practice. The impact of her former schooling experience and earlier professional training on her perceptions and use of ICT are also addressed. Furthermore, contextual factors are identified with specific emphasis on their role in influencing both teacher cognition and classroom practice. As implementation of technology takes place within an Arabic language teaching setting, I give particular attention to my teacher’s pedagogical theories associated with using technology in teaching the Arabic language, an area which remains under-researched and in need of further investigation.
Keywords:	Arabic language; Arabic language teacher; teacher cognition; pedagogical beliefs; technology use; case study
Main topic:	Catering for Less Widely Used and Taught Languages in CALL
Biodata:	Mariam Attia is currently a PhD student at the University of Manchester, UK. In her thesis, she explores teacher cognition in relation to using ICT in teaching Arabic as a foreign language. Previously, she has worked as an Arabic language teacher at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Type of presentation	Poster
Paper category	(Other)
Target educational sector	Higher education
Language of delivery	English
EU-funded project	No