Abstract:
The Adoption and Use of New Educational Technologies in the Training of Teachers
of English in Primary Teachers' Colleges in Kenya" is a study whose purpose was to: (i) identify new educational technologies needed to improve training of teachers of English in Primary teachers' colleges; (ii) identify factors influencing the adoption and use of these technologies in training of teachers of English in Primary teachers' colleges; and (iii) make recommendations on the adoption and use of new educational technologies in the training of teachers of English in primary teachers' colleges. Technologies investigated included the Radio, Audiotape, Television, Video, and Computer. The study was based on the needs assessment process, theories of change and Dale's (1954) Cone of Experience. The theories are centered on the principles that: the validity and appropriateness
adoption and institutionalization of any component of education is vital, the of innovations is influenced by various factors, and that different educational technologies promote different levels oflearning. The 404 subjects of the survey included teacher trainers, administrators, resource personnel; purposively
center personnel, teachers trainees, and Ministry and college of Education selected from western part of Kenya. The questionnaire, interview and observation were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results reveal significant discrepancies between
actual and desired levels of adoption and use of new technologies in training primary school English language teachers. The most discrepant technologies
identified were the computer and the video. Results also revealed that educational administrators and managers tended to underrate and undervalue discrepant technologies other groups of respondents. compared to The results of the study will move current training of English teachers, and teacher training in general, closer to the realities of their practical work settings and more relevant to the challenges of the twenty first century. Recommendations directed to the different stakeholders were made, which are expected to improve the adoption and use of new educational technologies in training English language teachers in Primary colleges in Kenya.
