Preet Hiradhar Language Instructor and E-Portfolio Coordinator Centre for English and Additional Languages (CEAL) Lingnan University, Hong Kong ANTWERP

EXPLORING THE MOTIVATIONAL ASPECTS OF A TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED LANGUAGE PROGRAM DESIGN

Preet Hiradhar Language Instructor and E-Portfolio Coordinator

Centre for English and Additional Languages (CEAL)Lingnan University, Hong Kong

ANTWERP CALL 2010: Motivation and beyond 18-20 August 2010

Preet Hiradhar Antwerp CALL 2010

http://www.antwerpcall.be/main.aspx?c=.CALL2010&n=70256&ct=070256&e=181517

Tapping immense

potential of technology

Designing language

enhancement programs

Effects of language

programs on attitudes and motivation of

language learners

INTRODUCTION:


Technology in

Language

Education

RESEARCH:

•if a teacher is to model intrinsic interest in the given task, it would be helpful if the task itself was stimulating.” (Richards, 1999)

•deliberate and systematic use of CALL would consequently increase interest in using the target language (Baldauf and Rainbow, 1992)

•language programmes emphasizing autonomy will likely foster student motivation (Vandergrift, 2005, p. 73)

•language programs could create a learning space that could move students to a more open, free, and authentic learning environment (Hayes, 2009)

•the use of interesting and challenging teaching materials is crucial to promoting intrinsic motivation” (Richards, 1993, p. 79).


Innovation

Sysyemat

ic Use of

CALL

Inte

rest

ing an

d

Challe

ngi

ng

Mate

rial

sEasy

Acce

ssibil

ity

Autonom y

BACKGROUND

Motivation


PROGRAM DESIGN Program: Writing skills of ESL students at tertiary level Participants: First Year - Lingnan University students Platform: WebCT CE8 30 hour- program : 5 units ( 6 hours each) – 10 weeks Focus on skills:

Writing Language Cognitive

• Describing• Reporting• Experience

Sharing• Summarizi

ng• Expressing

opinions / Responding to an idea

• Grammar• Vocabulary• Unity and

Cohesion

•Comprehension•Organization •Planning•Researching•Processing information•Final production of a written text

SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES IN A UNIT:

(1) Researching an online material based on the given requirements

(2) Reading or watching or listening to the chosen online material

(3) Making notes from the materials as part of the warm-up task

(4) Undertaking exercises based on the materials in the warm-up task

(5) Discussing ideas via an online forum based on the warm up material

(6) Organizing the ideas

(7) Writing a paragraph based on the warm-up task

(8) Exchanging and peer-reviewing each other’s work

(9) Revising and finalizing the written paragraph


FEATURES OFFERED BY THE PROGRAM:

Preet Hiradhar Asia TEFL 2009

Ease of access and use

Interactivity and feedback

Responsibility and control of

one’s own learning

Freedom of choice

Variety in learning

resources

METHODS:

On-line survey sent out to participants at the end of program with a 65% response rate

Evaluation of various aspects of the program 5 point scale: Strongly Agree -> Strongly Disagree Demographics:

Year One Lingnan University students – boys and girls Age group - 18 – 23 years Mean age: 20 Program Majors:

History Philosophy Business Administration Visual Studies Social Sciences Chinese

Preet Hiradhar CALL 2010 Antwerp

SURVEY FINDINGS:

Overall positive evaluation with higher combined percentage of ‘Strongly Agree and Agree’ to most items.

Survey Findings categorized into 3 sections:

Generic Evaluation

• Overall enjoyment

• Accessibility• Attitudes towards technology

Program-Specific Evaluation

• Time-Frame• Comprehensibility

• Autonomy in learning

• Use of resources

• Interactivity and Feedback

Overall Perception

• Sense of Achievement

• Future Use


ACCESS, COMFORT, ENJOYMENT:

Strongly agree

Agree Not Sure Disagree Strongly disagree

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

5.00%

57.50%

22.50%15.00%

0.00%

I enjoyed the program overall

Computer Labs

Hostel Room

Home Univ Campus

Other0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

8.61%

39.66%

27.59%

5.17% 1.72%

I accessed the program on WebCT from

Strongly agree

Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly disagree

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

5.00%

62.50%

25.00%

5.00% 2.50%

Comfortable with using different forms of technology

Strongly agree

Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly Disagree

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

5.00%

45.00%

22.50% 20.00%

7.60%

I enjoyed doing the technology-based tasks


TIME-FRAME AND COMPREHENSIBILITY:

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

5.00%

52.50%

22.50%17.50%

2.50%

I could finish the tasks in the given time-frame

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

5.00%

60.00%

20.00% 15.00%

0.00%

The instructions were easy to follow

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

7.14%

69.05%

19.05%4.76% 0.66%

The questions were easy to follow

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

2.50%

62.50%

22.50%12.50%

0.00%

I could incorporate all the requirements of each of the activi-ties


RESOURCE FINDING PROCESS:

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

7.50%

60.00%

17.50% 15.00%

0.00%

I was comfortable with searching for information/resources on the Internet

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

2.50%

55.00%

12.50%

25.00%

5.00%

I enjoyed the process of searching for various resources required for the given tasks


TYPES OF RESOURCES:

Movie /TV show web site

Travel/Holiday web site

Online News web site

Current issues audio

Controversial issue video

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

36.84%

22.81%

17.54%

10.53% 12.29%

The resources that I enjoyed using during the activities the most


OPPORTUNITIES OF LANGUAGE ENHANCEMENT

Strongly agree Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly Disagree0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

7.50%

60.00%

22.50%

10.00%

0.00%

The resources provided me with an opportunity to enhance my English language proficency.


INTERACTIVITY AND FEEDBACK

Strongly agree


0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

2.50%

45.00%

27.50%22.50%

2.50%

I enjoyed reading what my classmates had posted onto the online discussion forum.

Strongly

agree

Agree

Not sure

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagre

e

Not Applica

ble 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

2.50%

50.00%

12.50%

30.00%

2.00% 2.00%

I enjoyed reviewing my classmates' work online.


FORUM POSTS


FEEDBACK INCORPORATION

Strongly agree


0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

2.50%

47.50%

32.50%

15.00%

2.50%

The feedback I received from my classmate(s) was useful in improving my work before submission.

Yes Mostly No0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

7.50%

67.50%

25.00%

I incorporated the feedback received from my classmate(s) into my work on-

line as required.


PERCEPTION OF SELF-ACHIEVEMENT

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

5.00%

60.00%

27.50%

7.50%0.00%

I could produce a reasonably good piece of written text at the end of each activity.

Strongly agree


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

5.00%

62.50%

25.00%

7.50%0.00%

The technology-based activities in the program provided me with an opportunity to enhance my Writing Skills in English.


FUTURE USE


Strongly agree Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly Disagree

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

5.00%

55.00%

22.50%15.00%

2.50%

I would like to continue using various forms of technology to enhance my English Language Skills.


EVALUATION OF TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED LANGUAGE PROGRAM

Generic Evaluation

• Flexible delivery

• Easy Accessibility

Program-Specific

Evaluation• Comprehensi

ble input• Web-based

Autonomy• Variety of

interesting and stimulating resources

• Interactivity and Feedback

Overall Perception

• Sense of Achievement

• Positive attitude towards future Use


FEATURES OFFERED BY TECHNOLOGY

Technology

Easy Accessibility

Easy usability

Degree of Autonomy

Resource Variety

Authenticity

Cognitive Familiarity

Sharing and Interaction

Self-improvement Opportunities


MOTIVATION

THANK YOU!!!

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS WELCOME!!!Contact: Ms. Preet Hiradhar

[email protected]


Documents

Preet Hiradhar Language Instructor and E-Portfolio Coordinator Centre for English and Additional Languages (CEAL) Lingnan University, Hong Kong ANTWERP