Abstract
This study reports the development and evaluation of the usability of the multimedia courseware of English lessons for elementary school students. The courseware consists of seven chapters (Mime-time, Tokotoko Street, Short English stories, Chants-chants, Nihongo and English, Yasumatsu monkeys, and Unknown stories of Tokorozawa). Each chapter incorporated English phonology, familiar characters and animations, explanations of topics related to the local city the students live in. Further, the pace of the lessons was carefully considered during the production of the courseware. In addition, each chapter is free standing, so the teachers could use any chapter and part flexibly according to their teaching plan, as requested by the teachers before the development of the program.
The overall evaluation of the usability of the courseware, which was given by 142 homeroom teachers who used the courseware in their classes for one year showed a positive tendency overall, with 3.92 out of 5 points on a Likert scale (1. Poor to 5. Excellent). Factor analysis also identified five factors used to describe the courseware. They are 1) overall appropriateness of the courseware, 2) familiarity with the teaching/learning activities, 3) familiarity with the students’ everyday life, 4) familiarity with expressions and content, and 5) clear information to be delivered. Replies to an open-ended-writing question in the questionnaire suggested that the courseware apparently motivated the students’ learning of English and improved their attitude toward English learning.
