Technological Innovative Practices in English Language Teaching among Higher Education Institutions in Basilan, Philippines
Ángel Francisco Villarejo Ramos
Abstract
Effective teachers are essential for successful language learning in schools, as they play an important role in facilitating comprehension, promoting engagement, and enhancing students’ language proficiency. Their ability to employ innovative instructional strategies using technology and adapt to different learning needs significantly influences students’ academic outcomes and overall language competence. This descriptive-comparative study was interested in understanding English teachers’ technological innovative practices among higher education institutions (HEIs) in Basilan, Philippines. Exploring technological innovative practices amid the challenges of limited technology access in rural areas is essential for enhancing the quality of language learning. English language teachers (n=179) were selected from HEIs in the province, through total enumeration sampling. The findings revealed that English language teachers HEIs in Basilan frequently integrate technological innovations into their teaching practices, including Second Life for immersive simulations, smartphones for accessing resources and promoting multimedia learning, social media for enhancing engagement and building learning communities, and chat/messages for communication, instruction, and feedback—all of which are consistently practiced to motivate students, encourage participation, and develop their language skills. However, training and professional development opportunities were essential in improving the competence of university teachers as disparity was observed in their technological innovative practices. Future studies could explore the long-term impact of these practices on student performance and examine the effectiveness of professional development programs in equipping teachers with advanced technological skills.