american university of armenia mini-study on technological tools
DESCRIPTION
American University of Armenia Mini-study on Technological Tools. Course: CALL Instructor: Irshat Madyarov Students: Hripsime Shabunts Gayane Shabunts Autumn 2010. Technological tools. Glogster Voki Zimmer Twins Wallwisher Sketchcast Fotobabble. Mini-study questions. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
MINI-STUDY ON TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS
Course: CALLInstructor: Irshat Madyarov
Students: Hripsime ShabuntsGayane Shabunts
Autumn 2010
Technological tools
• Glogster
• Voki
• Zimmer Twins
• Wallwisher
• Sketchcast
• Fotobabble
Mini-study questions
1. How user-friendly is each technology for the learners?
2. How effective is each tool for EFL learning and
teaching?
MethodsParticipants
Name of the participant
Age EL level Computer/ technology literacy
Technologies used Time slots
Taron Harutyunyan
17 Advanced elementary
elementary 1. Sketchcast 30min
Varazdat Avagyan
28 Advanced elementary
advanced 1. Sketchcast 20min
Lilit Harutyunyan
19 Low intermediate
elementary 1. VOKI 2. Zimmer twins3. Wallwisher
1.30h
Ani Mirzoyan 21 Intermediate low intermediate 1. Glogster2. VOKI3. Fotobabble
1h
Methods
Data collection:
• Observation
• Semi-structured interview (with recordings)
The collected data is qualitative
Feedback
Feedback of the observers (teachers)
The type of feedback depended on the technological tool:
Jing project
Immediate feedback
Consultancy with the teacher-observers
Sketchcast Number of participants:2Taron & Varazdat
• The problems and difficulties with this technological tool were connected with the simultaneous tasks: speak & draw.
• The best solution for this problem could be let the students just draw any thing like and express THEIR OWN IDEA about that drawing. (In our case the picture was a specific object, and the student found the information about it, and had to learn it.)
GlogsterNumber of participants:1Ani
• The main advantage mentioned by the participant was that she could include both video and audio files in her project. Another good point mentioned by her was that the others (her friends) do not have to create an account to be able to see her Glog.
• She mentioned that the bad side of this tool is that it is not so much interactive (as compared to Wallwisher, where others could comment, and share ideas).
A sample of Wallwisher was introduced to this participants for her to be able to draw comparisons among them.
Zimmer TwinsNumber of participants: 1Lilit
• The good side of this tools, as mentioned by the participant was that it develop creativity. However, this creativity should be limited, as the number of actions, settings, sound, etc., are limited.
• It is also good in sense it allows to write the text as long as she wished. She pointed this, cause she disliked this shortcoming in VOKI (where she had to limit her speech to 90 seconds)
• The limitation of this tool, as mentioned by the participant is that it does not have sound.
Wallwisher
Number of participants: 1Lilit
• The participant mentioned that this tool was perhaps the best one among the three that she used (Voki, ZimmerTwins, Wallwisher). She could share as much information as she wanted.
• The only thing that was considereed to be missing was the opportunity to add videos and audios just on her wall, as compared to Glogster.
A sample of Glogster was introduced to her to be able to draw parallels between them.
FotobabbleNumber of participants: 1Ani
– I liked this tool very much. I have always wanted to send photos to my friends abroad, and I had to write the description of the pic, or I just skipped it. So, I think this is the best solution for it. They can hear me and also can see the pic.
• The bad point of this tool, as noted by the participant, is that only one pic can be illustrated at one time.
Voicethread was suggested to her as a better tool, as she wanted to include more photos.
Voki
Number of participants: 2
Ani & Lilit
• The participants mentioned that the good thing about this tool was that
it allowed to choose a character or to create our own.
• They could type the text, here the pronunciation, and make
improvements on their own pronunciation.
• The time slot is very short.
• Problems with technology may sometimes be demotivating.
RESULTSThe usefulness of the tools from teacher’s perspective
Technology Voki Z-Twins F-Babble S-Cast W-Wisher Glogster
SkillsListening + - + + - +
Writing + + - + + +
Reading + + - - + +
Speaking/pronunciation
+ - + + - +
Grammar + + + + + +
RESULTSThe discussion of the mini-study questions:1. How user-friendly is each technology for the learners?2. How effective is each tool for EFL learning?
The evaluation of each tool is out of 5points.The answers are based on the semi-structured interview with the learners (the average of the answers).
Technology Voki Z-Twins F-Babble S-Cast W-Wisher GlogsterQuestions Q1 3 4 5 4 4 5
Q2 3 3 4 4 4 3
RESULTSNOTE: All the four students shared with each other the product of the technological tool they used.
The overall evaluation of the students(participants) was that Fotobabble is perhaps the best choice from the point of view of both questions. However each of the tools had advantages and limitations.
The choice of the tool should be based on the purpose of EFL teaching/learning.
LIMITATIONS
• Time limitation
• Small number of participants
• Not detailed and thorough explanation of the preferences
for the tools
• Technological problems
• Not sufficient level of computer/technology literacy
Thank You for Your Attention