Theoretical perspectives on mobile language learning diaries and noticing for learners,teachers and researchers

This paper considers the issue of 'noticing' in second language acquisition, and argues for the potential of handheld devices to: (i) support language learners in noticing and recording noticed features 'on the spot', to help them develop their second language system; (ii) help language teachers better understand the specific difficulties of individuals or those from a particular language background; and (iii) facilitate data collection by applied linguistics researchers, which can be fed back into educational applications for language learning. We consider: theoretical perspectives drawn from the second language acquisition literature, relating these to the practice of writing language learning diaries; and the potential for learner modelling to facilitate recording and prompting noticing in mobile assisted language learning contexts. We then offer guidelines for developers of mobile language learning solutions to support the development of language awareness in learners

Shifting Perceptions within Online Problem-Based Learning

This chapter is aimed at supporting academic staff in universities and colleges who have begun or are considering introducing online problem-based learning (OPBL) for students’ learning. OPBL is a promising combination of pedagogical innovations and technological solutions which support and enhance each other. In this chapter we will examine the perceptions present in higher education today, which are connected with the development within the research fields of e-learning and problem-based learning. This chapter is based on the recent and extensive emergence of literature on online learning and the success of problem-based learning (PBL). Traditionally, PBL has usually been conducted in a face-to-face setting. Whilst there is a growing researchbase in the area (Donnelly, 2005; Koschmann, 2002; Portimojärvi, 2006; Uden, 2005;Valaitis et al., 2005), it is fair to say that less is still known about the use of PBL in the electronic-based distance-education virtual classroom.

El uso del chatbot como elemento de acción tutorial en la enseñanza universitaria

Abstract: It is of great importance to help and pay attention to students through different educational activities to ensure their participation in class and thus reduce the dropout rate. Traditionally, tutoring activities have been limited to face-to-face sessions in which students pose questions to the teacher. However, in a connected world with many available information systems, innovative tools are needed to facilitate and speed up both the study and the resolution of doubts in a comfortable way. Methods: This paper proposes using a chatbot based tutoring system as a novel educational experience focused on motivating universities students. Results: Besides, we provide a proof-of-concept implementation of a chatbot that answers questions as quickly and accurately possible at any time, in a comfortable way for the students, and at the same time it gathers feedback from the students regarding those topics that need to be explained in class in more detail. Conclusions: This experience is intended to increase the engagement and collaboration of both students and instructors and has helped to decrease the dropout rate in recent years.Resumen: Es de vital importancia ayudar y guiar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes a través de diferentes herramientas y actividades educativas que faciliten su participación en clase y permitan reducir la tasa de abandono. Tradicionalmente, las actividades de tutorización para estudiantes universitarios, se limita a reuniones presenciales en las que los estudiantes plantean preguntas al docente. Sin embargo, dadas las circunstancias actuales y ante un mundo conectado con muchos sistemas de información disponibles, se necesitan herramientas docentes innovadoras que faciliten el aprendizaje y una ágil resolución de dudas. Método: en este trabajo se propone la utilización de un sistema de tutorías, basado en el uso de un chatbot como experiencia educativa novedosa y orientada a motivar y facilitar el aprendizaje en estudiantes universitarios. Resultados: estudio aporta la implementación de un chatbot que responde de forma rápida y precisa, disponible en cualquier momento para solucionar dudas y facilitar el estudio de las materias a los estudiantes. Este chatbot además permite recopilar comentarios de los propios estudiantes sobre los temas que requieren ser explicados en clase con un mayor detalle. Conclusiones: El uso del chatbot tutorial, ha permitido aumentar el compromiso y la colaboración tanto de los estudiantes como de los docentes, disminuyendo la tasa del número de estudiantes que abandonan la asignatura.Ministerio Español de Economía y Competitividad - project TIN2017-85727-C4-2-P -UGR-DeepBio

Interactive Knowledge Construction in the Collaborative Building of an Encyclopedia

International audienceOne of the major challenges of Applied Artificial Intelligence is to provide environments where high level human activities like learning, constructing theories or performing experiments, are enhanced by Artificial Intelligence technologies. This paper starts with the description of an ambitious project: EnCOrE2. The specific real world EnCOrE scenario, significantly representing a much wider class of potential applicative contexts, is dedicated to the building of an Encyclopedia of Organic Chemistry in the context of Virtual Communities of experts and students. Its description is followed by a brief survey of some major AI questions and propositions in relation with the problems raised by the EnCOrE project. The third part of the paper starts with some definitions of a set of “primitives” for rational actions, and then integrates them in a unified conceptual framework for the interactive construction of knowledge. To end with, we sketch out protocols aimed at guiding both the collaborative construction process and the collaborative learning process in the EnCOrE project.The current major result is the emerging conceptual model supporting interaction between human agents and AI tools integrated in Grid services within a socio-constructivist approach, consisting of cycles of deductions, inductions and abductions upon facts (the shared reality) and concepts (their subjective interpretation) submitted to negotiations, and finally converging to a socially validated consensus

Collaborative trails in e-learning environments

This deliverable focuses on collaboration within groups of learners, and hence collaborative trails. We begin by reviewing the theoretical background to collaborative learning and looking at the kinds of support that computers can give to groups of learners working collaboratively, and then look more deeply at some of the issues in designing environments to support collaborative learning trails and at tools and techniques, including collaborative filtering, that can be used for analysing collaborative trails. We then review the state-of-the-art in supporting collaborative learning in three different areas – experimental academic systems, systems using mobile technology (which are also generally academic), and commercially available systems. The final part of the deliverable presents three scenarios that show where technology that supports groups working collaboratively and producing collaborative trails may be heading in the near future

State of the art of learning styles-based adaptive educational hypermedia systems (Ls-Baehss)

The notion that learning can be enhanced when a teaching approach matches a learner’s learning style has been widely accepted in classroom settings since the latter represents a predictor of student’s attitude and preferences. As such, the traditional approach of ‘one-size-fits-all’ as may be applied to teaching delivery in Educational Hypermedia Systems (EHSs) has to be changed with an approach that responds to users’ needs by exploiting their individual differences. However, establishing and implementing reliable approaches for matching the teaching delivery and modalities to learning styles still represents an innovation challenge which has to be tackled. In this paper, seventy six studies are objectively analysed for several goals. In order to reveal the value of integrating learning styles in EHSs, different perspectives in this context are discussed. Identifying the most effective learning style models as incorporated within AEHSs. Investigating the effectiveness of different approaches for modelling students’ individual learning traits is another goal of this study. Thus, the paper highlights a number of theoretical and technical issues of LS-BAEHSs to serve as a comprehensive guidance for researchers who interest in this area

Review of Learning in ICT-enabled Networks and Communities

This report is part of a project launched by IPTS with DG Education and Culture to study the innovations for learning, which are emerging in the new collaborative and informal settings enabled by ICT. The report gathers and analyses evidence from learning opportunities that are emerging in ICT-enabled networks and communities. In these new virtual spaces, participation is motivated by an interest to a topic, by creative production and by search for social connection. Online networks and communities emerge both within and across organisations as well as in a completely open and bottom-up manner. Accessing, following, and contributing to the communities can lead to a range of learning outcomes. New technologies afford tools and means for people to participate in communities in a personally meaningful way. However, not all individuals are necessarily equipped with skills or knowledge to benefit from these opportunities for their lifelong learning. Major challenges relate both to the initial barriers for accessing online communities with confident and critical digital competence and skills for self-regulated learning. Finding ways to identify, assess and certify relevant learning and new skills that can be obtained and practiced in these environments is a major task. The report argues that educational institutions should find ways to connect with and learn from these new learning approaches and settings in order to bring about their own transformation for the 21st century, and to support competence building for new jobs and personal development with a learner-centred and lifelong perspective.JRC.J.4-Information Societ