Oral corrective feedback on L2 writing: Two approaches compared

Corrective feedback (CF) research conducted within a cognitive-interactionist framework has examined the effectiveness of specific types of CF (e.g. Ellis etal., 2006). In contrast, CF research conducted within a sociocultural framework has sought to show how tailoring the feedback to the learners' zone of proximal development assists learning (e.g. Aljaafreh and Lantolf, 1994). The study reported in this article was designed to compare these two approaches to investigating CF by examining two types of feedback on students' errors in oral conferences following two pieces of writing. Some students received 'graduated feedback' in accordance with sociocultural theory and others explicit feedback in accordance with cognitive-interactionist theory. The detailed analysis of the feedback sessions showed that while the graduated feedback was effective in promoting self-correction, there was no evidence of any systematic reduction in the level of assistance provided over time. In contrast, the explicit feedback resulted in less self-correction but was accomplished much more quickly. © 2013

Investigating distribution of practice effects for the learning of foreign language verb morphology in the young learner classroom

Within limited-input language classrooms, understanding the effect of distribution of practice (spacing between practice) on learning is critical, yet evidence is conflicting and of limited relevance for young learners. For second language (L2) grammar learning, some studies reveal advantages for spacing of 7 days or more (Bird, 2010; Rogers, 2015), but others for shorter spacing (Suzuki, 2017). Further, little is known about the role of cognitive individual differences (e.g., language analytic ability) in mediating practice distribution effects for L2 grammatical knowledge development and retention (Suzuki & DeKeyser, 2017). To address this gap, this classroom-based study investigated whether distribution of practice and language analytic ability moderated the effectiveness of explicit, input-based grammar instruction for young first language (L1) English learners of French (aged 8 to 11). The study revealed minimal differences between longer (7-day) versus shorter (3.5-day) spacing of practice for learning an L2 French verb inflection subsystem, at either post- or delayed post-test. Minimal group-level gains and substantial within-group variation in performance at post-tests was observed. Accuracy of practice during training and language analytic ability were significantly associated with post-test performance under both practice schedules. These findings indicated that within an ecologically valid classroom context, differences in distribution of practice had limited impact on learner performance on our tests; rather, individual learner differences were more critical in moderating learning. This highlights the importance of considering individual learner differences in the development of resources and the potential of digital tools for dynamically adapting instruction to suit individuals

Unidad didáctica para la enseñanza de un tópico denaturaleza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (ndcyt) en profesores de Ciencias en formacion de la Universidad del Tolima(ut)-Colombia, en el marco del proyecto eancyt1

La enseñanza de la NdCyT se constituye en un problema de investigación actualmente relevante para los procesos de formación de profesores de Ciencias. Conforme a ello, se presenta una unidad didáctica sobre el estatuto de epistemológico de la ciencia, desde un enfoque explícito reflexivo, en donde se detalla los objetivos, actividades, estrategias metodológicas y proceso de evaluación con base en cuestiones específicas del Cuestionario de opiniones de ciencia, tecnología y Sociedad (COCTS). Esta propuesta se plantea con el objetivo de aportar a la reflexión sobre proceso de intervención didáctica en el marco de la NdCyT. La unidad didáctica está en el marco del Proyecto EANCyT