Higher Education Students' Acceptance and Attitudes toward PowerPoint Presentations as Learning Tools of English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Context of North- East-Thailand

Abstract

This study evaluated English for academic purposes (EAP) students' attitudes toward the use of PowerPoint presentations in EAP instructions in North-East- Thailand. Explicitly, the study set out to explore the nature of factors that would encourage the EAP students to use PowerPoint presentations for EAP learning or demoralize them from such use. The researcher applied mixed-methods research design, including surveys and in-depth interviews, to address the perceptions of a sample group of EAP students (N=137).

Based on the evidence provided by the researcher, there are several potential obstacles to the use of PowerPoint technology in EAP courses. However, the findings confirmed that the EAP students perceived PowerPoint as a beneficial and useful learning tool. While EAP instruction is based on learner-centered and student-oriented approaches to pedagogy, future EAP courses must be developed based on what EAP students perceive as required for and relevant to the facilitation of their learning.