Blog Task 3: 1st June 2009
In general it is a very positive and also more effective way of learning when you, as a foreign language learner, make use different kinds of learning. Information and material that has been learned can be better stored in your long-term memory when you learn with or through different strategies. One of these alternatives is the learning software which tries to expand the learner’s knowledge concerning vocabulary, grammar and general text and language comprehension. Apart from the conservative way of learning this might be a more attractive and more up-to-date manner because, as we saw in our first blog task, we live in an electronic-supported society and new media is increasingly used in school. Thus young people, especially students, might learn more or even better than before.
I analyzed one software which is suitable for students at the age of 9 -12 years. It is structured like an adventure game, the user has different locations which he/ she can enter to follow the tasks. The children are thought in a playful and animated way which might be an argument for young children do use this program. They learn through exploring the material and thus addresses the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking; which are the basis of good and effective learning processes. But no clear structure is recognizable and the overwhelming amount of possibilities is really confusing for young learners of English. All in all, it could be a recommendable learning software, if the navigation through the different levels would be more transparent and more clearly arranged.
The second program I analyzed is useable for students in secondary school or even at vocational schools (age group 18 – x years). This software is quiet well structured and you can navigate quiet easily. For its target group it is an appropriate program but has some negative aspects concerning content and variation. Every level is organized in the same way; the four main skills are addressed and the students are expected to reproduce and to transfer the information in a visual and auditory way which focuses on the behaviorism learning-theory. These are arguments for such software but here are also same negative aspects to mention which make the program less recommendable. According to every task solutions are available; this program contains incorrect and wrong answers which is very confusing and not appropriate for learners of a foreign language.
In general, this program has some positive aspects but I personally would not recommend it because it contains wrong answers and it is not designed very attractive.
Finally, I would use such a software in school as an alternative to conservative lessons and to open this ordinary structure. A way of using it could be in competitions with the whole class or as some kind of individual team work, whereas the students can ask questions if necessary but generally work on their own.
Hey Christin,
I really liked to read your evaluation of the learning software; you came up with some real good points.
I personally liked your ‘introduction’ into the topic before you started with analyzing the software. It made reading easier. You managed to look critical on the learning software but you also pointed out some positive aspects. One thing I was constantly missing, were the names of the two different programmes you’ve tested because it would be interesting to know, on what software you took a closer look at.
But all in all, you did a good job!
Hi Christin,
I totally agree on your point about the effectiveness of various combined learning methods but I would disagree on the advantage of software for this special aim. My experience with leaning software is, that it generally does not create a surplus of information or strategies. With a surplus I mean that these programs often do nat do anything you could not do without a computer.
A second problem is the difference between many programs and the required information pupils require for school. I know that there are programs that are organized like actually used workbooks but they are an exception.
I think your idea to make using a software for learning a competition is very good but if you plan to do such a thing you should use a program that matches the book you use. Well, that is my opinion.
But I think in terms of the mistakes you found in such software you would agree with me that software does not necessarily mean an improvement in learning.
Have a good day,
Sophia