"Students Fall into the Trap of Over-Relying on Technology" and “Lack of a Backup Plan”: Factors and Trends in the Selection of Instructional Media Among Preservice English Teachers During Teaching Practicum

Abstract

     In an era where technology plays a key role in education, selecting appropriate instructional media is essential—especially for student teachers who must apply their knowledge in real-world teaching situations. This research aims to: 1. study the selection of digital and tradition instructional media used by pre-service teachers (English major) during their teaching practicum; 2. investigate the factors influencing the selection of digital and tradition media by pre-service teachers (English major) during their practicum; and 3. explore the obstacles faced by pre-service teachers (English major) in selecting and using instructional media during their teaching practicum. This study employs a mixed-methods research design. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires. The quantitative sample consisted of 43 fourth-year pre-service teachers majoring in English. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Regarding qualitative data collection, semi-structured   in-depth interviews were conducted. The qualitative sample included 5 fourth-year pre-service English teachers, 5 mentor teachers, and 5 university supervisors. The qualitative data were analyzed using Thematic analysis.

     The findings revealed that 1. preservice English teachers tended to prefer using digital media over handmade media ( = 3.69, SD = 0.51); 2. the most influential factor in media selection was its attractiveness and ability to capture attention ( = 3.76, SD = 0.43), and 3. the obstacles encountered by preservice English teachers included limited availability of equipment and technology in schools, their skills in evaluating the appropriateness of media, as well as the capacity to adapt when faced with unforeseen situations that deviated from the original lesson plan.