Are female secondary school teachers in Bangladesh becoming digitally empowered or disempowered? An exploratory analysis of the impact of digital empowerment on professional development

Differences in access, skills, and usage of digital technology between men and women have resulted in an unequal experience in using digital technology in changing work environments, especially in education, which is expressed as the gender digital divide. This divide serves as a barrier to digital empowerment and tends to be wider in developing countries. However, there is a scarcity of literature on digital empowerment among female teachers at the secondary school level. Therefore, based on Makinen’s (2006) perspective, this study investigated digital empowerment among Bangladeshi teachers with respect to gender-based differences. Data on the four components of digital empowerment mentioned by Makinen were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from a random sample of 326 respondents, along with the qualitative method of an in-depth interview and focused group discussion from three city corporations: Dhaka, Khulna,and Rajshahi, according to their digital divide rates. The findings reveal that both overall awareness and technical access status are satisfactory. Yet, female teachers lacked significant intrinsic motivation and computer abilities to perform specific tasks. Findings also revealed that empowered women had better levels of professional capabilities, self-confidence, and more Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based pedagogy. Female teachers should be recognized and encouraged in institutional programs to promote digital empowerment and reduce the digital divide between genders

Empowering Women Through the Use of Technology: A Scoping Review

The achievement of gender equity and equality has been a long-time goal of many international entities. The main indicator for the goal of women’s empowerment, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has been to: “enhanc[e] the use of enabling technology by increasing the proportion of women and girls who have access” (United Nations [UN], p. 20). While information and communication technologies (ICTs) were initially thought to be neutral in terms of access and opportunity, emerging trends now indicate that the use of technology within society has significant social implications, specifically related to gender as a determinant of health. Using the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) methodology for scoping reviews, the following question was answered: What is the impact of ICT on the level of women’s empowerment worldwide? Using the stated research question, the primary objective of this scoping review was to identify the extent, range, and scope of evidence involving the impact and influence of ICTs on women’s empowerment. The major themes that emerged from this review included: (a) the means in which ICTs have assisted in building the capacity and tools of women, (b) the manner in which ICTs have been used as an intervention in supporting empowerment; and (c) the approach in which ICTs can act as potential barriers and facilitators to women’s attainment of agency. The evidence from this scoping review supports the innovative use of current and emerging technologies within health care to connect with, engage, and empower women both within the acute and community settings. The extant evidence explores how ICT has played a role in the promotion and support of women’s empowerment as well as supporting the development of health care policies and relevant programs

Authentic input to motivate learners to develop listening skill: benefits, drawbacks of using podcast

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in English, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (page 50-55).In Bangladesh, mobile devices are distinctly gaining the importance in education section. While CD-ROMs, multimedia computer labs, the World Wide Web, e-mail, and SMS still play an important part in language learning, research into the use of Web 2.0 technologies and Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) have become increasingly common (Fitzgerald et al., 2009 p. 19 ). As the curriculum does not provide a lot of opportunities to develop listening skill to the learners in their secondary and higher secondary level of education, in their higher education they have to face so many difficulties. As classrooms are mainly conducted in Bangla and students do not have much opportunities to communicate with native speakers of their target language, podcast can fulfill this gap with a very low cost. The popularization of portable devices in language teaching means that there is a wealth of language learning resources like podcasts are freely available to learners who may download them and use them anywhere at any time. However, before effectively integration of podcast in listening skill development, it is important to concern about necessary authentic input for motivation, benefits and drawbacks of using podcasts. This study conducted among 40 students of different colleges of Bangladesh to find out motivational factor, benefits and drawbacks of using podcasts. The data gathered from the learners showed that the podcast can motivate learners to develop their listening skill and podcasts can provide huge opportunities to develop listening skill and other skills simultaneously.Subrata Chandra DeyM.A. in Englis

The history of English in Bangladesh

English is a problem in Bangladesh. This thesis studies the political history of English and English Studies in Bangladesh as the nation continues debates on English. Bangladesh has been a contested ground for languages for centuries. Language such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Portuguese, have risen as a language of ruling people in different historical times and they have fallen from the prestige status. Both Bangla and English in the contemporary period have strong positions to the nation. This research has followed the historical research methods, reviewed the documents of the past, listened to the lectures and discussions on English Studies, and made its enquiries on the secondary data sources. The thesis has simultaneously investigated the writings e.g., i. both Bangladeshi and International writers, ii. social and political theorists’ views, iii. Bangladeshi scholars’ debates on languages. English connects Bangladesh to the world, contributes to economic development, creates freedom in career development, and English has a paramount effect on economy, commerce, business, and human resource development. However, English has the potential power to diminish Bangla. Also, English is a language of power politics. Politics and Governance change the impacts of English. The administrations of the colonial period, of the Pakistan period and of independent Bangladesh have direct connection with the rise and the fall of English Studies which helps to figure out five different ages of English since the arrival of the British East India Company in Bangladesh. This historical discussion of English is important for the nation to know because the scholars have been debating the status of English in Bangladesh. The thesis through its eight chapters shows different issues such as the historical relationship between English and Bangla, the language hegemony in Bangladesh, the debates between groups over English education, the decolonizing efforts through introducing Southern English in the curriculum. This research study will help the nation understand the position of English in Bangladesh in the postcolonial period.* Teaching Assistantship at School of Graduate Studies(SGS), UofL (2021 and 2022). * Research Assistantship at the Journal Incubator, Department of English (2021 and 2022) * Research Assistantship at Humanities Innovation Lab, Department of English (2022) * Tooker Gomberg Graduate Award (2021 and 2022). * SGS Fellowship (Fall 2021 and Spring 2022)