Teachers' use of audiovisual media for teaching and learning in Kuwait public schools, the influence of teacher training colleges and the role of the school library in media provision

The thesis explores the benefit and use of audiovisual materials by teachers and lecturers in Kuwait. The educational system in Kuwait has relied upon traditional teaching styles which are mainly based on the use of printed texts, with very little independent or resource based learning. These approaches may not meet the needs of all learners, and the provision of multi media resources in many other countries inspired the author to explore current and potential AV use in Kuwait. School teachers were interviewed about their use of audiovisual materials, their views on the advantages for teaching, and the problems experienced in identifying and obtaining suitable materials. They provided examples to show how a specific lesson had been enriched by audiovisual materials. Lecturers were interviewed about their use of audiovisual media when teaching student teachers. The student teachers were asked about their response to the use of audiovisual materials by their lecturers, and about their experience of attending courses on AV techniques. The author discusses the general infrastructure for AV media provision in Kuwait and the role of the school library media centre in meeting teachers' needs for such materials. The study concludes that the use of audiovisual materials in teaching benefits both teachers and learners by making concepts easily understandable, overcoming physical difficulties, and stimulating enjoyment, confidence, concentration and teacher/learner communication. There are problems in the procurement and use of audiovisual materials and educational technology supervisors in many of the surveyed schools were considered by teachers to be a source of support if adequately trained and wisely used.