~ 791 ~ ISSN Print: 2394-7500 ISSN Online: 2394-5869 Impact Factor: 5.2 IJAR 2016; 2(9): 791-799 www.allresearchjournal.com Received: 20-07-2016 Accepted: 18-08-2016 Namrata Raut Research Scholar, Karnataka State Women University, Bijapur, Karnataka, India Dr. Onkargouda Kakade HOD, Mass Communication and Journalism department, Karnataka State Women University, Bijapur, Karnataka, India Prabha B Swamy Research scholar, Karnataka State Women University, Bijapur, Karnataka, India Correspondence Namrata Raut Research scholar, Karnataka State Women University, Bijapur, Karnataka, India An evaluation study on usage of new media as pedagogical tool among high school teachers in Karnataka Namrata Raut, Dr. Onkargouda Kakade and Prabha B Swamy Abstract New media changed the definition and form of media. In the 21 st century new media is powerful tool to reach out people quickly and easily and effectively. The age of new media and other new communication technologies have brought the change in individual’s life. People of all age are at the status of transition in regard to the usage of new media technology. New media usage is possible with the electronic communication, which is possible through the use of computer technology. New media includes websites, Streaming, Chat rooms, Internet, Email, Social Networking, DVD and CD-ROM’s, Virtual reality environment, Internet telephony, Mobile computing etc. The new media has made communication easier across the world. It is enabling new cultures in our society. New media is not just medium of entertainment but its positive usage can construct the personality and individuality. Now a days, new communication technology makes teaching and learning more flexible. New media technologies offer teachers and students a more flexible approach to teaching and learning. Net books, Tablets, Cell phones, iPods, E-readers and even Palmtop computers are increasingly becoming the tools of choice for today's educators, and it is easy to use. It can increase the level of understanding of students. Even teaching can be effective with new media. The pictures, graphics, videos can demonstrate and illustrate the theory well. The present study seeks to find out to what extent high school teachers use new media in Karnataka. How powerful the new media is as teaching tool? The researchers have used the survey method with multi stage sampling. 360 samples are taken for this study. The study revealed that majority of the teachers expressed new media was helpful in their day to today teaching. The study also reported that majority has agreed new media make teaching easy ever before. The study would be helpful to teachers, researchers and users of new media technologies. Keywords: New media, social media, internet, usage as pedagogical tool, high school teachers Introduction Twenty first century can be termed as era of technology. The inventions of advanced science and technology made all frictions come true. 21 st century is witnessing the changing definitions of media. Basically, new media is meant for accessing any information any time any where through digital device. New media has provides a platform for people to express, share across the globe. New media introduced online networking and social networking. Social media like Face book, Twitter, blogs, Wikipedia, Podcast etc.., provide instant connectivity, community building. New media lessens the work of human. It has increased the communication between people across the world. It has allowed people to express themselves through blogs, websites, pictures, and other user-generated media. Introduction of social online networking sites has facilitated communication in the fastest and impressive way. Here users can create a profile and connect that profile to others to form an explicit personal network. Through the social networks shorten the distance between the largest geographically apart areas even. Members of such networks can easily form the groups of same interest and can be friends instantly. People are getting fascinated by new media to either create network of people to assist in job search and even in companion search. As said above, new media is eventually marking in all the fields and all the sectors of life. It is emerging as the effective pedagogical tool also. Initially, it was believed that new media is suitable for higher education only. But, later developments of new media reached all the levels of education. International Journal of Applied Research 2016; 2(9): 791-799