Natavan Qojayeva Receives Special Commendation for Master's Dissertation

Natavan Qojayeva, a distinguished member of The UGAAA, has been honored with a Special Commendation in the “Master’s Dissertation Awards 2023-2024” by the British Council. This accolade was given for her outstanding thesis completed as part of her master's degree in Education at the University of Bath under the "2022-2026 State Program."

This prestigious award is presented annually to dissertations from UK universities that achieve Distinction in the field of English Language Teaching. Natavan’s thesis was recognized for its exceptional contribution to understanding and enhancing the integration of technology in educational settings.

Thesis Abstract:

Natəvan’s research explores the effectiveness of mini-workshops designed to boost teachers' confidence and willingness to integrate technology and Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) into their teaching. The study employed a role-based framework to tailor the content of these workshops, targeting various educational roles to improve their technical and pedagogical skills.

Participants included 13 experienced English Language teachers, with seven attending two 90-minute workshops. The research utilized a combination of pre and post-workshop surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions to capture the impact of the workshops. Findings indicated significant benefits for the teachers, including enhanced peer collaboration and new insights into technological approaches for English teaching. However, barriers such as a lack of technology-integrated materials, misalignment with curriculum, and the negative impact of national exams were also identified.

This work contributes to the field by showcasing the potential of well-structured mini-workshops to support teachers in incorporating technology effectively into their classrooms.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Natavan Qojayeva for this remarkable achievement and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.