特別場次：Future Directions: Embracing Technologies in the English as Second Language Classroom
主席：Andrew Brindle （聖約翰科技大學）
場次簡介
The aim of this special session is to present papers which investigate the implementation, perceptions and attitudes of ESL students in terms of using technology in their classes. Teachers’ technology and attitudes and practices in their instruction were also explored in these research papers. The results indicate that the students have positive attitudes toward the use of technology and they believe that using technology in teaching is both motivating and rewarding. These findings will help shape future directions in the field.
論文發表
1.The Familiarization and Implementation of AI Applications in an ESL Classroom
Andrew Brindle （聖約翰科技大學）
摘要/Abstract
The aim of this paper is to investigate a pilot study which aimed to familiarize senior high school-aged students with the certain AI applications which may be used in a language learning environment to assist language learners. The primary issues related to this project were to investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of certain language learning applications and discuss whether such technologies were suitable for the contexts of language learners in Taiwan. Artificial Intelligence is the future for all modern societies and will influence the lives of everyone in the coming years. This project intended to take advantage of the latest Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications and utilize those advanced forms of technology in an ESL classroom environment at St. John’s University, Taiwan, to assist the learners in the acquisition of a foreign language. The project aimed to implement a communicative, student-centered approach to teaching using English as a means of communication. Through close observation, monitoring and interaction with the students, the goal of the project was to discover how such technology may be harnessed to assist the students in their studies and discover how the students responded to working with this new innovative methodological approach.
Through interviews with the students involved in the project, it was perceived that a high degree of enthusiasm and motivation for the apps which were specifically designed as language learning tools was present (Duolingo and Lyrics Training), in comparison to a Chatbot app and Brainly. Such findings appear to indicate that as the latter two apps were not specifically designed for language learners, the proficiency levels of the students’ involved may have restricted their ability to take advantage of the potential of such platforms. Therefore, although an app may be linguistically sophisticated and appreciated by a native speaker, such sophistication may be inappropriate for a language learner until his or her proficiency level reaches a certain level. Furthermore, the two apps which were popular with the students (Duolingo and Lyrics Training) were designed to have a high degree of entertainment value, whereas the two less popular apps did not. This led to the notion of whether a degree of entertainment in the classroom is now a prerequisite to success, as the students in modern advanced societies have been raised in an Internet environment where constant entertainment is abundantly available at one’s fingertips.
Keywords: foreign language learning, AI applications, learning motivation, English as a means of communication
2.The Influence of Smartphone Apps on Improving Student Motivation
丁廣韻 （聖約翰科技大學）
葉宏麒 （聖約翰科技大學）
摘要/Abstract
This paper uses some facts and data analysis to illustrate how and to what extent a smartphone app benefits foreign language teaching. With the continuous development of science and technology, mobile assisted language learning (MALL) is applied to teaching practice. Its features mainly include the mobility of learning environment, the variability of learning content and the extensibility of learning time. The project intended to explore the relationship between mobile assisted language learning and listening comprehension in foreign language learning. The result shows using mobile phone is an effective way to learn a new language. Through the experimental method, it was perceived that students owned a high degree of enthusiasm and motivation for the technology. As a method of mobile learning, smartphone apps play an increasingly important role in leaning. In current language teaching, teachers use the apps to help learners improve their listening comprehension and learning skills and give homework. In addition, the apps also provide learners with a more convenient and available way, so they can practice and study anywhere and anytime they want. This paper analyzes the related research and limitations of technology-assisted English learning. Therefore, this study designed better and more specific learning activities with the support of mobile learning technology, in order to better promote the improvement of English speaking and listening skills. Through the analysis of the study, the influence of smartphone apps on improving the motivation is very significant, which is beneficial to achieve the ultimate goal of education.
The use of interactive whiteboard (IWB) in schools has become widespread in recent years. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of interactive whiteboard on the teaching and learning in schools. The primary issues related to this project are to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of interactive whiteboard and discuss what kind of attitude we should take to IWB. Through exerting on the classroom and getting feedback from teachers and students, this study explored the relationship among IWB, teaching efficiency and participation of students. The study reveals that interactive whiteboard is definitely beneficial to classroom teaching, it can create a teaching situation which conforms to students’ cognitive characteristics, and the interaction between teachers and students can be prompted extremely. The contemporary technology not only enhanced critical thinking and problem‐solving skills, but also emphasized previously taught concepts in a more interactive and integrated way.
However, using the interactive whiteboard in whole class is not necessarily the best way to teach students, educators need to choose teaching tools at the right time to improve students’ learning and achievement. There is no doubt that physical instruments always have their drawbacks, IWB is no exception. Therefore, taking an objective and rational attitude toward interactive whiteboard is vitally important. Teachers should focus on students and teaching contents rather than educational technology. Only when we think of the interactive whiteboard as a common teaching tool and use it selectively can we exploit it to the full and maximize the efficiency of teaching.
4.Learners’ perspective of Artificial Intelligence in Education
林雨欣 （聖約翰科技大學）
Andrew Brindle （聖約翰科技大學）
摘要/Abstract
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in education has become widely.The aim of this paper is designed to investigate whether AI can improve education and to explore the effects of AI on life. Data were collected via survey from 61 participants that are from different programs in a university. These programs come from various age groups and departments. This research mainly uses quantitative methods to analyze the data, that is, extract data from questionnaires. The questionnaire is about whether people know the application of Artificial Intelligence in life, which is distributed at the beginning and end of this experiment.
The research findings indicate that most people worry about whether they have privacy in life and most students think Artificial Intelligence is useful to their study.
However, some parents and teachers stay neutral. Yes, parents also participate in this survey. Most people think that they are enjoying technology in entertainment while most people worry that artificial intelligence robots will replace future jobs at work. Moreover, most participants think AI cannot predict the future. Finally, result support the social media has different effects on people, depending on preconditions and personality. However, the author argues that AI as a whole is beneficial to human life and education, but only if it is not overused. This paper also reveals the advantages and disadvantages of the AI about life and education. These studies provide a more- theoretical basis for people to study AI and education and life in the future.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence technology; AI in education; AI in life
5.A Study of Mobile Application assisted English Learning
蔣欣妤 （聖約翰科技大學）
Mei-Sheng Chao （中國文化大學）
摘要/Abstract
This study aims to explore usage frequency on the smartphones. With the rapid development of global mobile network and information technology, smart phone has become an indispensable part of people's life. The self-paced and autonomous learning mode of mobile application makes change of the traditional classroom into learner center, with the full popularization of electronic products that knowledge on the network more common. Meanwhile, the paper outlines the methodology used including data collection methods, the characterization of participants and the focus on the instrumentation and protocols. The standards mentioned will assist users to evaluate APP effectively, but educators and students can also benefit by actively collaborating and sharing their experiences in using these APP. The mobile phone App learning platform is rich in learning content, which can meet the individual learning needs of students, thus improve the students' enthusiasm for learning, but also expand the students' vision and make it not limited to the classroom teaching content. Facing the prevalence of mobile phones among students, many mobile phone Apps introduce reading and writing teaching App. If this kind of App is applied to the reading and writing teaching of English majors, students' learning situation and teachers' teaching methods will be greatly changed. In addition, with the increasing demand of users, the mobile phone App platform technology will also improve the technology, improve the professionalism and functionality, and will provide teaching tools that are more convenient, more intelligent and more suitable for teaching development in the future. Using it effectively can make it serve the teaching class better.
Keywords: mobile application evaluating; language learning; Internet learning
