Articles
Explore the potential use of English Instant Messages
Reid Payne
Abstract:
Owing to its easy access and user-friendly interfaces, the worldwide popularity of Instant Messaging (IM) has grown significantly in recent years. This study proposed that IM can be used as a modern learning tool for enhancing English communication. The current study investigated university students’ perceptions of the use of instant messaging (IM) in their English learning. The study also discussed the potential usability and efficiency of the proposed application. A survey instrument was developed to achieve the described objective. One hundred and eighty-two Taiwanese university students completed the survey. Five statistical analysis methods including descriptive statistics, factor analysis, T-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and path analysis were performed to test the hypotheses of the study. This study concluded that the implementation of IM in English learning is feasible due to students’ interest in English learning and their familiarity with IM. The implementation of IM in English learning may be valuable to non-English speaking countries. Future studies should employ an experimental design to investigate whether implementing IM would enhance students’ English fluency.
Women and Information Technologies
Alex Mcknight
Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to document the personal gain of women after using information technologies and to determine how, why and how often they use information technologies, which were designed for men, and which are under men’s domination. In the study, after mentioning technology and information technology in general, a literature review will be conducted by examining the studies on women and information technologies. This study, “Information Technologies and Women” examines the relationship between women and information technologies and how it differs from men’s relationship to information technologies. The sample is 1,100 people, 550 are men and 550 are women. A questionnaire with 25 questions was applied in interviews. The questionnaire was practiced upon the questions in the survey “2008 Information Technologies Use of Residents” conducted by the Turkey Statistics Institute. The sample was selected homogeneously among the people using computers and the internet at home, work or in internet cafés who are at least high or junior high school graduates. The participant’s ages were between 16 and 65. The selection of participants was made according to their work and marital status. The data of questionnaire was uploaded to a computer and analyzed using SPSS software with cross and frequency charts. The data was evaluated under the main titles of: the profiles of the people who took the questionnaire, use of information technologies, access type, rates of use, frequency of use, purpose of use, and personal gains after use.