EXPLORING EMIRATI NINTH GRADE STUDENTS’ USE OF EDMODO IN LEARNING ENGLISH: A MIXED-METHOD STUDY

This mixed-method study is aimed at exploring the use of EDMODO by Emirati ninth grade female students (n = 97) who are studying English as a second language. In the first phase of the study, quantitative data were collected by using a questionnaire. Additionally, from the original pool, a subset of students (n = 11) were interviewed with regards to EDMODO usage in the classroom. The findings from this study revealed that ninth-grade students found EDMODO to be first and foremost an interesting and joyful learning experience; Second, they also reported it is an efficient platform for learning; and thirdly, they reported that EDMODO is a social platform and useful integrative tool for their learning experiences. The quantitative results corroborated the qualitative results by showing that EDMODO was found to be an efficient platform by the students, it was also found to be a viable tool for social integration and was enjoyable to students. Moreover, there were no major challenges that were found. There were no major variations between students’ self-report and their views, only students indicated that EDMODO offers them multiple spaces for learning, helps them consolidate their learning and they expressed that they faced minor technicalities in using EDMODO. The actual practices support and validated the students’ self-report and views which revealed that students actually use EDMODO as a social and learning platform as well as an effective tool to exchange ideas. The study offers some recommendations for instruction, pedagogy, and research