Impact of Specktron as a Digital Smartboard in Saudi English Classrooms

Abstract

There is a significant shift in teaching and learning methodologies due to the evolving demands of modern education. One innovative method that gained prominence is the utilization of smartboards to enhance English language acquisition. The present study investigates the application of Specktron (Smartboard) within English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom in Saudi Arabia. This research has a descriptive nature and a quantitative design was employed. The research targeted the entire population of Saudi EFL learners. A simple random sampling technique was applied to pick out 120, 12th grade students from 12 schools from the western province of Saudi Arabia. The province was chosen by purposive sampling. Initially, through a placement test the participants were categorized into two groups of 60 participants on the criterion of the test scores. One group was taught by textbook-based instruction and teacher-controlled method, while the experiment group was facilitated by Specktron. The span of intervention was 30-hour. Successive analysis of post-intervention test revealed a statistically significant difference in the group which learnt through Specktron. Thus, affirming the positive impact of Specktron (Smartboard) powered learning on EFL language performance. These findings also underpin the efficacy of Specktron as a valuable pedagogical tool in EFL contexts.