Exploring Special Education Teachers' Perception, Readiness, and Practices for ICT Integration in Classrooms for Students with Hearing Impairment

Abstract

This article delves into the captivating world of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) integration and its potential to revolutionize the teaching and learning process for students with hearing impairment in Punjab, Pakistan. The current study was conducted to explore the current situation of ICT integration in the teaching-learning process of students with hearing impairment. Employing an innovative and comprehensive approach, this research adopted mixed methods to uncover the current state of ICT integration in the teaching-learning process of students with hearing impairment. Through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, researchers embarked on a journey to understand the perspectives of male and female special education teachers specializing in hearing impairment across Punjab's diverse regions. The sample of the study was carefully selected from secondary schools of special education, comprised of 200 special education teachers, complemented by the invaluable insights from 10 interviewees. The findings of the research highlighted that ICT integration in education for students with hearing impairment is not up to the mark because special education teachers have almost never used ICT (software and hardware) for teaching students with hearing impairment due to the unavailability of ICT-based teaching resources.