Evaluating a CALL software on the learning of English prepositions

This study assessed the effectiveness of using a CALL lesson (Computer Assisted Language Learning) over a conventional lesson to facilitate learning of English prepositions at Bario, Malaysia. CALL was developed by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia as support material to enhance learning of English prepositions. Both the conventional and the CALL lessons were matched with the same content except for the medium in which the lesson was being delivered. Students were provided with computers to go through the CALL lesson in a self-regulated manner; while a teacher taught the conventional lesson in a classroom. Test results indicate that students who received the conventional lesson outperformed those who went through the CALL lesson. The Relative Condition Efficiency measurement also showed that the conventional group learned more efficiently than the CALL group. The findings are interpreted from the perspective of cognitive load required in processing the presentation mode of the learning materials.     

Student engagement with mobile-based assessment systems: A survival analysis

Research on mobile-based assessment systems is still an emerging topic in the mobile learning field. Current research has demonstrated that the use of mobile-based assessment systems seems to have a positive impact on students' learning outcomes and motivation. The paper identifies some factors that influence student engagement with mobile-based formative assessment in a language learning course. Survival analysis of the interaction of N = 86 students from eight English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses over 5 weeks showed that students with higher levels of self-reported effort and perceived importance engaged for longer periods of time. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and behavioural intention to use were all predictors of the longer use of mobile-based assessment systems. We found that within the first 25–50 min of use, about half of the students might disengage from using a mobile-based assessment application.     

Examining Factors That Influence the Effectiveness of Learning Objects in Mathematics Classrooms

Abstract

Learning objects are interactive online tools that support the acquisition of specific concepts. Limited research has been conducted on factors that affect the use of learning objects in K–12 mathematics classrooms. The current study examines the influence of student characteristics (gender, age, computer comfort level, subject comfort level, and mathematics grade), instructional design (structured vs. open ended), and teaching strategy (teacher led vs. student based) on student attitudes toward the use of learning objects and learning performance. Data in the form of surveys and pre- and posttests were collected from 286 middle and secondary school students. Higher computer and subject area comfort ratings were significantly correlated with more positive student attitudes about learning objects. Older students in higher grades learned more than younger students in lower grades after using learning objects. Learning performance was significantly higher for students who used structured (vs. open-ended) learning objects and participated in teacher-led (vs. student-based) lessons. It is speculated that younger students might need more scaffolding when using mathematics-based learning objects.     

The impact of computer‐based instruction on the development of EFL learners' writing skills

The current study investigated the application and effectiveness of computer assisted language learning (CALL) in teaching academic writing to Iranian EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners by means of Microsoft Word Office. To this end, 44 sophomore intermediate university students majoring in English Language and Literature at an Iranian university who had enrolled in a course called Advanced Writing were randomly divided into two groups. As a pre‐test, a pen‐and‐paper writing task was given to both groups at the beginning of the semester. The control group including 24 male and female students was taught based on traditional approach while the experimental group including 20 male and female students was taught based on CALL. At the end of one semester, a pen‐and‐paper writing task was given to both groups. The results of the post‐test revealed that the students who were exposed to computer‐based instruction outperformed their counterparts in terms of using appropriate articles, tense, plural forms and spelling. Moreover, the students in the experimental group produced paragraphs of higher quality. The findings of this study confirmed the efficacy of computer‐based instruction in the development of EFL learners' writing skills.     

Teacher-created video instruction in the elementary classroom—Its impact on students and teachers

Despite the proliferation of multimedia devices in elementary classrooms, there is limited research examining teacher-created video instruction, particularly regarding its effect on academic growth and engagement. This study investigated the effect of teacher-created computer-based video instruction (CBVI) using iPads on students' academic, behavioural and affective learning in elementary classrooms. The study used a repeated-measures design with counterbalancing to measure the effects of CBVI during mathematics lessons on student achievement scores, time on-task and attitudes towards learning. Three year three classes (n = 49) completed three lessons, each using a different mode of instruction: CBVI created by the class teacher, CBVI created by a stranger, and a traditional live lesson delivered by the class teacher. Results were analysed using a Linear Mixed Model. No significant growth in performance was detected during video instruction, however a significant growth result was achieved for the traditional live teaching mode (p < 0.001), possibly attributable to the longer duration of experimental session. Behavioural engagement was considerably higher during CBVI lessons than live lessons and students preferred their teacher's voice during CBVI. Three teachers were interviewed to examine how CBVI affected teaching and learning, with two main themes emerging: (1) positive impacts of CBVI upon students; and (2) positive impacts on teacher wellbeing. This research indicates benefits for students and teachers when using teacher-created CBVI. Further research is needed to better understand the factors that influence cognitive development of students using CBVI and to also further explore the effect of CBVI on teacher wellbeing.     

Embedded blended learning within an Algebra classroom: a multimedia capture experiment

This two‐group, pretest‐posttest, quasi‐experimental study compared secondary students' learning of Algebra II materials over a 4‐week period when identical instruction by the same teacher was delivered through either embedded blended learning (treatment group; n = 32) or a live‐lecture classroom (control group; n = 24). For both groups, instruction was delivered in a normal classroom setting. A math test and a student survey were used to measure students' learning of Algebra II and satisfaction with the instruction. Students in the treatment group showed significantly greater gains in Algebra II test scores and evaluated their learning experiences significantly more positively than did the control group. The great majority (80%) of students in the treatment group preferred the embedded blended learning over traditional live lectures for future learning of math. Students' responses to open‐ended survey questions suggested that students in the treatment group appreciated the: (a) ability to control the pace of instruction; (b) new role of the classroom teacher; (c) lack of distraction in the blended learning environment; and (d) accessibility of the embedded multimedia lessons outside the classroom. This study suggests that screen‐capture instructional technology can be used towards establishing a teacher‐based, embedded blended learning environment within a secondary algebraic classroom.     

Exploring the role of e-learning readiness on student satisfaction and motivation in flipped classroom

Decrease in student satisfaction and motivation in flipped classroom (FC) model of instruction is among frequently observed problems. And these problems could reduce the efficiency of FC model. It is believed that the problems related to student satisfaction and motivation in FC model of instruction are related to the e-learning readiness of the students. The purpose of the current study was to explore the impact of the e-learning readiness of the students on student satisfaction and motivation in FC model of instruction. The study was carried out with 236 undergraduate students taking Computing I class taught using FC model of instruction. Data were collected from three self-report instruments: E-learning Readiness Scale (subscales: ‘computer self-efficacy’, ‘internet self-efficacy’, ‘online communication self-efficacy’, ‘self-directed learning’, ‘learner control’ and ‘motivation towards e-learning’), Satisfaction Scale and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. The path analyses with structural equation modelling (SEM) further verified that students' e-learning readiness were related to their satisfaction and motivation while undertaking academic tasks in FC model of instruction. The results of the study indicated that students' e-learning readiness was a significant predictor of their satisfaction and motivation in FC model of instruction. Findings were presented and discussed for future studies and applications.     

Developing an assessment-centered e-Learning system for improving student learning effectiveness

This research used Web-based two-tier diagnostic assessment and Web-based dynamic assessment to develop an assessment-centered e-Learning system, named the ‘GPAM-WATA e-Learning system.’ This system consists of two major designs: (1) personalized dynamic assessment, meaning that the system automatically generates dynamic assessment for each learner based on the results of the pre-test of the two-tier diagnostic assessment; (2) personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation, meaning that the system annotates the e-Learning materials each learner needs to enhance learning based on the results of the pre-test of the two-tier diagnostic assessment and dynamic assessment. This research adopts a quasi-experimental design, applying GPAM-WATA e-Learning system to remedial Mathematics teaching of the ‘Speed’ unit in an elementary school Mathematics course. 107 sixth-graders from four classes in an elementary school participated in this research (55 male and 52 female). With each class as a unit, they were divided into four different e-Learning models: (1) the personalized dynamic assessment and personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 26); (2) the personalized dynamic assessment and non-personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 28); (3) the non-personalized dynamic assessment and personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 26); and (4) the non-personalized dynamic assessment and non-personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 27). Before remedial teaching, all students took the prior knowledge assessment and the pre-test of the summative assessment and two-tier diagnostic assessment. Students then received remedial teaching and completed all teaching activities. After remedial teaching, all students took the post-test of the summative assessment and two-tier diagnostic assessment. It is found that compared to the e-Learning models without personalized dynamic assessment, e-Learning models with personalized dynamic assessment are significantly more effective in facilitating student learning achievement and improvement of misconceptions, especially for students with low-level prior knowledge. This research also finds that personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation significantly affects the percentage of reading time students spend on the e-Learning materials they need to enhance learning. However, it does not appear to predict student learning achievement and improvement of misconceptions.     

Applying a multimedia storytelling website in foreign language learning

Storytelling is a practical and powerful teaching tool, especially for language learning. Teachers in language classrooms, however, may hesitate to incorporate storytelling into language instruction because of an already overloaded curriculum. English foreign language (EFL) teachers in Taiwan report additional problems such as having little prior experience with integrating storytelling into language teaching, locating appropriate stories, and lacking the cultural and language abilities to handle storytelling in English. On the other hand, researchers have demonstrated successful usages of computer and network-assisted English learning. The researchers in this study have developed a multimedia Storytelling Website to study how web-based technology can assist overcoming the obstacles mentioned above. The website contains an accounts administration module, multimedia story composing module, and story re-playing module. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of this Website in significantly facilitating teacher’s storytelling and children’s story recall processes in EFL classrooms, it was implemented in one elementary school to test its effectiveness in instruction and in resultant student learning. The results of the study support the significance and the education value of the multimedia Storytelling Website on EFL teaching and learning. If such a Website can be applied within elementary EFL classrooms, the quality of teaching and learning can be improved and students’ enjoyment and success in EFL learning may increase.     

Unpacking the black-box of students' visual attention in Mathematics and English classrooms: Empirical evidence using mini-video recording gadgets

With the technological improvements of innovative portable recording gadgets, augmented researchers' interest in exploring students' visual attention in their natural and normal occurring classrooms. The purpose of this study was to gauge students' visual attention in their Mathematics and English classrooms. This article reports on a study conducted in three schools in Santiago, Chile, where a sample of 113 randomly selected students wore a mini-video camera mounted on eyeglass in their Mathematics and English lessons. Using Google images, we automatically and objectively examined 723,600 frames from the recordings where the classroom teacher appeared in the students' visual field. The results show that students' visual attention varies depending on four factors: (a) gender of the student, (b) age of the students, whether students are low/high attainers and (d) whether students are in English or Mathematics lessons. Surprisingly, students significantly paid more visual attention in their Mathematics than in English lessons. High attainers were more visually engaged than their low attainers counterparts. Students appeared to be visually engaged differently at different stages in their education. Furthermore, girls were more visually engaged than boys. The results of this study can have enormous practical implications for teachers and teacher education, in order to be better visually engaged with students during teaching.     

Data mining for adaptive learning in a TESL-based e-learning system

This study proposes an Adaptive Learning in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) for e-learning system (AL-TESL-e-learning system) that considers various student characteristics. This study explores the learning performance of various students using a data mining technique, an artificial neural network (ANN), as the core of AL-TESL-e-learning system. Three different levels of teaching content for vocabulary, grammar, and reading were set for adaptive learning in the AL-TESL-e-learning system. Finally, this study explores the feasibility of the proposed AL-TESL-e-learning system by comparing the results of the regular online course control group with the AL-TESL-e-learning system adaptive learning experiment group. Statistical results show that the experiment group had better learning performance than the control group; that is, the AL-TESL-e-learning system was better than a regular online course in improving student learning performance.     

Developing a survey for assessing preferences in constructivist context‐aware ubiquitous learning environments

This study developed a survey to explore students' preferences in constructivist context‐aware ubiquitous learning environments. A constructivist context‐aware ubiquitous learning (u‐learning) environment survey (CULES) was developed, consisting of eight scales, including ease of use, continuity, relevance, adaptive content, multiple sources, timely guidance, student negotiation, and inquiry learning. The survey responses were gathered from 215 university students from five universities in Taiwan. The students all had actual experience of using u‐learning systems in u‐learning environments. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the CULES had high reliability and validity. The structural model revealed that the provision of realistic and close‐to‐real‐life information could enhance students' preferences for timely guidance, student negotiation, and inquiry‐learning activities. In addition, the attainment of inquiry learning is quite challenging when designing u‐learning activities, as it involves the enhancement of the other CULES scales.     

Enhancement of student learning performance using personalized diagnosis and remedial learning system

Although conventional student assessments are extremely convenient for calculating student scores, they do not conceptualize how students organize their knowledge. Therefore, teachers and students rarely understand how to improve their future learning progress. The limitations of conventional testing methods indicate the importance of accurately assessing and representing student knowledge structures. The personalized diagnosis and remedial learning system (PDRLS) proposed in this study enhances the effectiveness of the Pathfinder network by providing remedial learning paths for individual learners based on their knowledge structure. The sample was 145 students enrolled in introductory JAVA programming language courses at a Central Taiwan technology university. The experimental results demonstrate that learners who received personalized remedial learning guidance via PDRLS achieved improved learning performance, self-efficacy, and PDRLS use intention. The experimental results also indicated that students with lower knowledge level gain more benefits from the PDRLS than those with higher level of knowledge and that field dependence (FD) students obtain a greater benefit from PDRLS than field independence (FI) students do.     

Development of an adaptive learning system with two sources of personalization information

Previous research of adaptive learning mainly focused on improving student learning achievements based only on single-source of personalization information, such as learning style, cognitive style or learning achievement. In this paper, an innovative adaptive learning approach is proposed by basing upon two main sources of personalization information, that is, learning behavior and personal learning style. To determine the initial learning styles of the students, the [Keefe, J. W. (1987). Learning Styles: Theory and Practice. Reston, VA: National Association of Secondary School Principals.] questionnaire is employed in our approach. To more precisely reflect the learning behaviors of each student, the interactions and learning results of each student are analyzed when adjusting the subject materials. Based on the innovative approach, an adaptive learning system has been developed; moreover, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of our approach. By analyzing the results from three groups of students using different adaptive learning approaches, it can be found that the innovative approach is helpful in improving both the learning achievement and learning efficiency of individual students.     

The Digital Learning Classroom: Improving English Language Learners’ academic success in mathematics and reading using interactive whiteboard technology

This study presents the findings from the first-year evaluation of the Round Rock Independent School District’s (ISD) Digital Learning Classroom project, an initiative focused on the improvement of English Language Learners’ (ELL) learning using interactive whiteboard (IWB) technology. An objective of the evaluation was to determine the extent IWB technology could foster performance parity in academic achievement between ELL and regular students, that is, reduce the student achievement gap between these two student groups in 3rd and 5th grade mathematics and reading. These grade levels and subjects were the primary focus of the project because students in grades 3 and 5 that do not pass the state’s standardized assessments in mathematics and reading cannot be promoted to the next grade level and therefore, these are “high stakes” tests for students. A second evaluation objective was to determine whether and the extent to which the Digital Learning Classroom could increase ELL students’ academic learning relative to that of ELL students in traditional classrooms (i.e., without IWBs). Using a quasi-experimental design, the results strongly indicate that IWBs can foster performance parity thereby closing the achievement gap between ELL and regular students while increasing ELL student achievement. Pedagogical implications for teachers of ELL students within the context of Digital Learning Classroom project implementation are presented, as well as recommendations for future study of the Digital Learning Classroom in ELL classroom settings.     

Virtual reality in problem-based learning contexts: Effects on the problem-solving performance,vocabulary acquisition and motivation of English language learners

Learning a foreign language requires interaction with language input while involved in a task. Given that problem-based learning (PBL) offers hands-on application in realistic contexts, and that virtual reality (VR) enables learners to interact with multiple modalities of information, this study examines how the integration of VR technology into PBL contexts affects students' motivation for, problem-solving during, and vocabulary acquisition in learning English as a foreign language (EFL). A total of 84 engineering majors who enrolled in a course of English for specific purposes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Students in the experimental group participated in a VR-assisted PBL context, in which they were to view a PBL scenario using VR technology and then to create VR videos about solving the given problems. Those in the control group participated in a PBL context without the use of VR technology for viewing and solving the identical scenario. After the intervention, all the students wrote a problem-solving analysis, took a vocabulary knowledge test, completed a learning motivation questionnaire, and participated in individual interviews. The results showed that the students in the experimental group significantly outperformed those in the control group in terms of vocabulary acquisition, and were more motivated to learn English related to their future careers, whereas there was no significant difference in the problem-solving performance of the two groups. Implications of these findings highlight the value of engaging EFL learners in immersive environments for contextualized learning through the integrated use of VR and PBL.     

The role of metacognitive listening strategies awareness and podcast-use readiness in using podcasting for learning English as a foreign language

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ metacognitive listening strategies awareness and podcast-use readiness in using podcasting technology for learning English as a foreign language. One hundred and forty-one EFL students completed Metacognitive Awareness Listening Questionnaire (MALQ) that assessed their awareness and perceived use of listening strategies in five components including planning-evaluation, directed attention, person knowledge, mental translation, and problem solving. They also completed a questionnaire that assessed their readiness to use podcasting in terms of familiarity, attitude, and experience. Information on participants’ frequency of podcast use for learning English, frequency of the internet use, and digital device ownership was also obtained. The result of the analysis revealed that podcasting use was significantly related to metacognitive listening strategies awareness in general and its entire components except mental translation strategies while the strongest correlation was found with problem solving strategies (r = .49, p < 0.01). Podcasting use was also found to be significantly related to perceived podcast-use readiness and internet use hours. Further, multiple regressions showed that perceived podcast-use readiness, problem solving, and person knowledge -in order of power prediction- were good predictors of podcasting use for learning English as a foreign language.     

A novel approach for enhancing student reading comprehension and assisting teacher assessment of literacy

For students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), reading exercises are critical not only for developing strong reading comprehension, but also for developing listening, speaking, and writing skills. Prior research suggests that social, collaborative learning environments are best suited for improving language ability. However, opportunities for English learners to collaboratively practice reading comprehension are minimal, and due to resource constraints and a lack of accurate evaluation methods, English instructors rarely assess student literacy effectively. In response to these problems, we propose a Tag-based Collaborative reading learning System (TACO) that makes use of Web 2.0 Internet social tagging techniques to provide a collaborative environment for reading English. We test our system’s ability to both improve reading comprehension and aid teachers in accurately assessing literacy by conducting a three-month trial with 56 participating Taiwanese high school students from February to May 2009. During this period, post-testing results show a significant improvement in reading scores among participants in our tag-based system, and survey feedback from teachers suggests an improved capacity for literacy assessment.     

Data mining for adaptive learning sequence in English language instruction

The purpose of this paper is to propose an adaptive system analysis for optimizing learning sequences. The analysis employs a decision tree algorithm, based on students’ profiles, to discover the most adaptive learning sequences for a particular teaching content. The profiles were created on the basis of pretesting and posttesting, and from a set of five student characteristics: gender, personality type, cognitive style, learning style, and the students’ grades from the previous semester. This paper address the problem of adhering to a fixed learning sequence in the traditional method of teaching English, and recommend a rule for setting up an optimal learning sequence for facilitating students’ learning processes and for maximizing their learning outcome. By using the technique proposed in this paper, teachers will be able both to lower the cost of teaching and to achieve an optimally adaptive learning sequence for students. The results show that the power of the adaptive learning sequence lies in the way it takes into account students’ personal characteristics and performance; for this reason, it constitutes an important innovation in the field of Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL).     

Analysing the role of a pedagogical agent in psychological and cognitive preparatory activities

There is a lack of studies that examine the role of a pedagogical agent on student development in a specific learning situation that involves psychological and cognitive preparatory activities in high school settings. We examined the effectiveness of pedagogical agent (APT) cognitive and affective feedback on learner motivation and well-being. We applied an experimental research design, involving 45 fourth-year high school students, divided in experimental and control groups (APT vs. human tutor). We performed a quantitative analysis to collect and analyse data of students using our APT. APT cognitive feedback had a positive effect on students' motivation for learning by encouraging students' proposals and initiatives and arousing students' interest in the topic. In addition, APT affective feedback fostered an appropriate emotional climate and creative environment for learning by enhancing students' curiosity, creativity and confidence for carrying out the activity, while reducing students' negative emotions such as boredom and anger. This study provided us useful insights about the affective (and cognitive) competencies that a virtual affective pedagogical agent needs to have in order to support students' mental and emotional health throughout a learning situation. Yet, further research is needed to consolidate these findings and make APT more adaptive to different learning situations.