Turning a multimedia language lab into a powerful learner-centred tool

In a learner-centred approach, lecturers constantly adapt their teaching methods to better suit their students‟ goals and needs. Ideally, the gathering of information relies on three channels: questionnaires and surveys, learners‟ log book and course evaluation. However, these methods can be time consuming or even impossible considering the nature and size of the class or even the constraints of limited contact hours

Using flash games to stimulate cooperative communication

The benefits of using games in the language class are numerous (Godwin-Jones, 2005). Playing computer games have become a popular form of relaxation for many learners (Yang, 2001). Can this phenomenon be utilized to support foreign language teaching at the tertiary level? In this research, a group of 15 Malaysian students were asked to solve a puzzle in a Flash game. Their task was simple: exit from a virtual room without a door. The computer/language lab used for this task was the Sanako Lab 300. Each learner had access to a single computer as well as a microphone and a headphone. The class had been divided into three groups of four students each and one group of three. In order to create an information gap task, four different audio instructions were available to each group. Each member of a group was required to communicate with the other three groups in order to complete the tas

Raising exposure and interactions in French through computer-supported collaborative learning.

This case study is part of an action research conducted in a Malaysian public university aiming to develop a computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) interface for learners of French as a foreign language at the bachelor level. A real task-based CSCL assignment was implemented in a blended learning setting with online activities added to the curriculum without reducing face-to-face contact hours. In line with engaged learning and learner-led theories, 24 learners were asked to collaborate to carry out a complex task that challenges their linguistic and communication skills as well as their organisational aptitude. This study focuses on an analysis of the learners’ perceptions of the CSCL assignment. Questionnaires and guided interviews were carried out to assess the learners’ evaluation of the online support, the relevance of CSCL in a foreign language acquisition and the benefits of real task based assignments. The increased exposure and interactions in the target language and culture resulted in learners’ higher motivation, confidence, and participation. The majority of learners enjoyed this assignment and admitted the benefits of being increasingly challenged. The tutorial was very well received. However, some learners also confided having suffered from too much stress due to zealous team leaders. The learners’ comments and suggestions provided precious feedback on how to improve the implementation of CSCL in the future

Trustworthiness in Sampling Selection: Remedies Against Introspective Chaos

The ethical dimension pertaining to protecting participants from psychological harm due to the in-depth nature of the inquiry and to the intimacy resulting from prolonged engagement is well-documented. This is laudable, but very few studies focused on guiding the researchers against chaotic emotions arising from introspectively questioning their beliefs and motivations and inspiring their judgments underlying their decisions. In our involvement with masters’ students’ thesis writing and research management training, supervision, and examination, we became aware of recurring cases of novice researchers silently disappearing from the program, eventually reappearing, continuously struggling with their thesis. Investigating this process, we identified the difficulty of becoming trustworthy researcher-instruments as the central issue leading to students disconnecting from their research. Students would disclose their anxiety of being accused of bias when defending their purposeful sampling. Therefore, we decided to equip them pre-emptively, helping them build their researchers’ expertise and confidence. Firstly, we disclosed our vulnerability from the perspective of the researchers’ awareness. Secondly, we exposed an intricate sampling case in terms of methodical considerations. Lastly, we provided a step-by-step demonstration of the initial, purposeful, and theoretical sampling selection process, illustrating the constant comparative analysis method, peer discussions and member reflections as safeguarding procedures towards trustworthiness

Shooting short videos in French with mobile phones

In Malaysia, the use of French language is virtually nonexistent. Furthermore, students who major in French frequently do not choose this program voluntarily; often it is chosen for them by a national clearing agency. In this context, how can we boost learners’ participation and motivation in a course they have not selected? In a blended approach of e-learning, and m-learning, students were asked to use both the internet and their mobile phones to produce multimedia documents. These resources were then shared and evaluated on an e-learning platform. Evaluations were both self-and peer conducted. During and after this project, quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Our findings reveal that participation and motivation were mutually increased. This was achieved by implicating the students in the learning process, from the conception to the distribution and finally evaluation of resources. As a result, communication skills were boosted and an online community was forged. Could these results have been obtained without the use of technology? It is probable that an activity where messages were pinned on a board could also have enhanced the learning process. However, it seems unlikely that learners would have attained such a rich level of communication without employing ICTs. Mobile phones are important in the learners’ culture and including this technology proved more effective than expected

Rostre i cervell : dues cares d'una mateixa realitat

El treball desenvolupat en aquesta tesi conclou que la morfologia de la cara pot informar-nos sobre la psicologia de les persones. Al llarg del s.XIX es va estendre l'ús de la frenologia, que postulava una relació entre les característiques psicològiques i la forma del crani, però a poc a poc va caure en desús i va ser titllada de pseudociència. Aquesta investigació aborda les mateixes qüestions però amb una metodologia científica i moderna, aportant resultats que animen a seguir estudiant la relació entre psicologia, cervell i rostre.El trabajo desarrollado en esta tesis concluye que la morfología del rostro puede informarnos sobre la psicología de las personas. A lo largo del s.XIX se extendió el uso de la frenología, que postulaba una relación entre las características psicológicas y la forma del cráneo, pero poco a poco cayó en desuso y fue tachada de pseudociencia. La presente investigación aborda las mismas cuestiones pero con una metodología científica y moderna, aportando resultados que animan a seguir estudiando la relación entre psicología, cerebro y rostro.The work carried out in this thesis concludes that facial morphology can reveal aspects of human psychology. Phrenology, which postulated a direct link between psychological characteristics and the shape of the skull, was popular throughout the 19th century. However, the practice fell into disuse and eventually became considered a pseudoscience. This research focuses on the same postulation, but uses a modern scientific methodology and offers results which spur scientists on to continue studying connections between psychology, brain and face

Stock Prices, Uncertainty and Risks: Evidence From Developing and Advanced Economies

[Abstract] This paper studies the relationship between stock prices and three types of uncertainty: economic policy uncertainty, stock market volatility, and geopolitical risks. In particular, our aim is to determine whether these forms of uncertainty play the same role in developed and developing countries. With this purpose, we take Spain and Brazil as representative cases. In order to provide new insights into the abovementioned relationship, a cointegration approach is applied, specifically an ARDL model, using monthly data from the period January 2006-December 2019 for a series of financial and macroeconomic variables. The results obtained reveal that there is no uniform effect of uncertainty in stock markets of developing and developed countries. First, in Spain, there is a high perception of uncertainty in economic policy and stock market volatility, which impact negatively in share prices, both in the short and long term. Regarding Brazil, the global uncertainty in the stock markets has effects on share prices, in both time horizons. By contrast, geopolitical risks do not show any significant impact on Brazilian and Spanish share returns

iPads in the foreign language classroom: a learner’s perspective

This research paper presents the findings from the pilot study of a project exploring the potential of tablet computers in the foreign language classroom in a Malaysian public university. This article focuses on the technical amazements and challenges as experienced by a learner discovering her iPad 2 over four weeks. In-depth knowledge about the device’s user-friendliness and language learning potential was gathered through a narrative qualitative approach using classroom observations, field notes and interviews. The objectives were to unveil the learner’s perceptions toward the device as a novice user and to discover her strategies when handling the device for language learning. This study describes the learner’s intentions for adopting the iPad as a learning tool and how she overcame technological obstacles. It provides educators with hints on the learner’s tools and strategies for learning languages with the iPad as well as insights and recommendations to educators willing to venture into teaching languages with tablet computers

Course note delivery on mobile facebook / Serge Gabarre, Cecile Gabarre and Rosseni Din

The present study reports on a longitudinal research which sought to explore how Facebook on smartphones could be used to replace an institutional learning management system. A review of the literature revealed that very little articles had been published on the incorporation of both technologies in education. A grounded action research method was employed over a period of one and a half year in three French as a foreign language courses. The action research implementation was two-fold as it included the delivery of course notes and the sharing of learner-created documents. Data collection was conducted through online observations and interviews. A systematic grounded theory approach was used during the six cycles of analysis. Findings revealed issues with the implementation which were corrected over time. Overall, students positively responded to the new platform of delivery. A working model describing learning a foreign language with Facebook on smartphones was constructed, and best practices guidelines were identified. These are discussed in the perspectives of mobile assisted language learning, task-based learning, and social networking learning