Does academic major matter in mobile assisted language learning? A quasi-experimental study

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nattaporn Thongsri ◽  
Liang Shen ◽  
Bao Yukun
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Major ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Stem Students ◽  
Statistical Analysis Technique

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of mobile assisted language learning (MALL) in vocabulary learning among English foreign language learners in China with a lens on academic major difference. This study hypothesizes that academic majors including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM differentiate the learners’ perception of computer self-efficacy (CSE) and MALL learning performance as well as moderate the effect of CSE on language learning performance. Design/methodology/approach Sample data for this study were collected from 200 university students enrolled in both STEM and non-STEM majors. Under the quasi-experiment, this study had been conducted vocabulary training, pre-test, post-test and a questionnaire. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, a statistical analysis technique based on ANOVA and regression were used to analyze the data. Findings The results support hypotheses that CSE, learning score and satisfaction are rated higher for STEM students than non-STEM ones and indicate the effect of CSE on language learning performance is stronger for STEM students than non-STEM ones in using MALL. Originality/value This paper addressed important issues in language learning on the academic major difference. The findings would be the guidelines for educational organizations to motivate and stimulate students with sustainable self-confidence important not only for improvement in students’ language learning achievements and outcomes but also for the advancement of mobile technology in language learning.

COVID-19’s impact on digitalization of education: incorporating visual vocabulary learning application to foster vocabulary knowledge

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed Barjesteh ◽  
Elham Movafaghardestani ◽  
Ahmad Modaberi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Visual Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intermediate Students ◽  
Learning Group ◽  
Visual Vocabulary ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Quasi Experimental

PurposeCOVID-19’s attack on the system of education left the learning of many students in limbo. For minimizing this effect, the current study sought to probe how Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL) can facilitate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ vocabulary knowledge. In so doing, a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest research design was adopted to check the effect of a newly developed application (i.e. visual vocabulary learning, hereafter VVL) in an EFL classroom.Design/methodology/approachTo complying with the objective, a number of intermediate students (N = 40) were considered to participate in the study. They were assigned into a visual learning group (VLG) and a nonvisual learning group (NVLG) comprising 20 students in each. The VLG was directed to learn vocabulary by a VVL, and the NVG, a conventional method was employed for vocabulary instruction. An independent samples t-test was run to screen the efficacy of the intervention.FindingsThe finding revealed that participants in the VLG outperformed significantly in the posttest. The finding is beneficial for EFL teachers, syllabus designers, and material developers to take advantage of mobile applications in teaching vocabulary.Originality/valueThis study was conducted during COVID 19 between two groups in Iran.

The Experience and Persistence of College Students in STEM Majors

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonghong Jade Xu
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Degree Completion ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
College Experience ◽  
College Education ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Academic Major ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Student College ◽  
Stem Students

In this study, an online survey was constructed based on the extant literature on college student success. The survey was used to collect data from a sample of college students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors in order to examine their learning experiences and to identify the factors that may influence their persistence to degree completion. The findings support the theoretical modeling of the academic and social aspects of student college experience. Nonetheless, it is the institutional conditions, particularly the quality of academic program and faculty teaching and accessibility, which dominate the STEM students’ college experience and their persistence in academic major and to graduation. Therefore, it is critical for academic institutions to invest in a supportive learning environment by emphasizing quality teaching, accessible academic advising, and related functions in order to successfully engage STEM students in college education and increase their likelihood of degree completion.

Family socioeconomic status and students’ choice of STEM majors

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-65
Author(s):  
Kao Sovansophal
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Academic Major ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Scholarship Students ◽  
And Mathematics

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the trends of Cambodian government scholarship students’ choice of academic major; the significant association between family socioeconomic status (SES) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors, and the patterns of STEM major choices across demographic and geographical characteristics. Design/methodology/approach Descriptive analysis and cross-tabulation statistical tests were employed to analyze the data of 1,000 students drawn from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport scholarships database of 2018. The study employed a correlational study design. Findings Findings revealed that the Cambodian government scholarship students were more inclined to major in social science than science and engineering-related fields. Findings also positioned that students’ choice of STEM majors was significantly associated with family SES, gender and locality. Students from families with higher SES, male students and students from the provinces were more likely to choose STEM majors than their counterparts. Originality/value These findings point to some practical considerations on how to maximize low SES students’ enrollment in STEM majors at a higher education of Cambodia.

scholarly journals EFL Learners’ Perspectives on the use of Smartphones in Higher Education Settings in Slovakia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rastislav Metruk
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Positive Attitudes

MALL (Mobile assisted language learning) affords new opportunities for EFL (English as a foreign language) learners and teachers. Research on MALL is still in its infancy in Slovakia, and this paper attempts to fill in this gap by examining students’ perception and attitudes towards the use of smartphones for the purposes of learning and practicing English. The target population of this study constituted of the Slovak university EFL learners whose major was Teacher Training of English Language and Literature (n = 77) at a Slovak university. The research method employed to achieve the objectives of this study was a 5‑point Likert scale questionnaire, comprising of two sets of statements: general and out‑of‑the‑classroom statements with a total of 29 items. The research results for both sets of statements imply that the participants display moderately positive attitudes towards smartphones in the context of EFL learning. However, the findings also reveal some issues surrounding the perception and potential use of smartphones such as the inability to plan students’ language learning appropriately and effectively, general underuse of smartphone apps, or problems related to practicing speaking skills. The results further suggest the immediate need to develop and enhance the awareness of smartphones and their potential in the process of teaching and learning English so that the EFL learners can utilize considerable opportunities these smart devices offer. Finally, the limitations of this study are recognized, and it is emphasized that conducting further research in this area is urgently needed.

scholarly journals Self-efficacy and Online Language Learning: Causes of Failure

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1319
Author(s):  
Phuttharaksa Yantraprakorn ◽  
Pornapit Darasawang ◽  
Pamararat Wiriyakarun
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Online Learners ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Foreign Language Learners

The study reported in this article examined why some highly efficacious learners failed in an online foreign language course based on Bandura's theory of self-efficacy. The study was conducted as part of a project investigating the self-efficacious foreign language learners in an online writing course. The motivation behind the study was that the success rate of online learning in Thailand is low. The learning performance of six highly efficacious distance language learners at a recognised English language tutorial school in Bangkok, Thailand was analysed. The data collection included an online questionnaire and individual telephone interviews. The findings suggested that goal setting, shift of attribution and insufficient feedback are factors that might decrease the efficacy of online learners’ and affect their decision to withdraw from a program. The implications of this study provide recommendations on support to help online language learners succeed.

scholarly journals A Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Research about Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Foreign Language Teaching

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Ceyhun YÜKSELİR
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning

The previous research indicates that technology plays an important role and has a great potential in foreign language teaching. It is also obvious that mobile assisted language learning (MALL) considerably affects learning process among foreign language learners. Thus, this current study aims to present a meta-synthesis of qualitative research results on the MALL published in high stakes academic journals especially in the last decade. Through electronic databases, the results of studies about MALL were identified and included in the study. After collecting the studies about MALL, thematic analysis was used and some of the themes were identified and analyzed in accordance with the data, respectively. It is expected that this study will not only help the target groups such as learners, lecturers and language policy makers to broaden their knowledge about technology in Turkey, but also result in an increased awareness of MALL.

Online and Handwritten Homework in Calculus for STEM Majors

2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1513-1533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Smolinsky ◽  
Gestur Olafsson ◽  
Brian D. Marx ◽  
Gaomin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Online Homework ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Math Scores ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Stem Students ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Assessment Questions ◽  
Large Sections

Calculus is an essential intellectual gateway and initiation in the education of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students. In this study, graded online computer homework was compared with graded handwritten homework in second-semester calculus for STEM students. Previous calculus studies excluded STEM students or compared graded online computer homework with ungraded uncollected handwritten homework. Two large sections and two small sections of Calculus II were studied using a quasi-experimental design. Students were given the same lecture by the same instructor for each class. Students were not aware of the type of homework to be assigned when they registered. Online homework sections used WebAssign, which is one of the most widely used textbook and homework systems. The analysis indicates that there was no significant difference in performance between handwritten and online homework. Assessment questions that required graphical answers provided the greatest contrast between handwritten and online homework and were separately evaluated. Controls were included for entering math scores and a socioeconomic indicator. This study does not find any significant difference due to homework type. As a secondary question, the effect of class size is examined.

The Effect of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Learning-Language Lab versus Mobile-Assisted Learning

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ru-Chu Shih
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Mobile Learning ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
English For Specific Purposes ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Learning Group ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Positive Attitudes

In recent years, the rapid advancement of information technology has had a great impact on our daily life and changed the world in which we operate; in particular, mobile devices have become more portable and powerful than ever. As a result, mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) and ubiquitous learning have been widely adopted in a variety of studies. However, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of teaching English for specific purposes (ESP), i.e., the Business Language Testing Service (BULATS) for college students in a language laboratory and through the mobile LINE app. A total of 72 college students were randomly assigned to two groups, a language lab group and a mobile learning group, for 10 weeks of instruction. The findings revealed that the students in the mobile learning group had significantly positive attitudes toward the teaching method and learning content and high user satisfaction. In addition, the learning performance of the students in the mobile learning group was better than that in the language lab group.

scholarly journals An Analysis of the Development of Learner Autonomy among EFL Learners through Language Learning Diaries in the Context of Punjab (Pakistan)

2019 ◽  
Vol IV (IV) ◽  
pp. 52-63
Author(s):  
Ayesha Butt ◽  
Uzma Quraishi ◽  
Asma Shahid Kazi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Tertiary Level ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Autonomy Development ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Learner autonomy refers to a state where a learner takes charge of the learning. The students in foreign language classrooms are still much relying on their teachers and take less responsibility for their own learning. The present study is quasi-experimental research that designed an autonomous learning program to develop autonomy among Pakistani foreign language learners. The study aimed at examining the development of autonomy among learners through analyzing their language learning diaries. The target population of the study was tertiary level students of Lahore, Punjab (Pakistan) and the sample was the tertiary level students of a public sector women university of Lahore. The autonomy development program was implemented as an intervention for 27 weeks. The data was collected through the language learning diaries during the program and was analyzed descriptively. The analyses of the student diaries revealed that the autonomy development program proved to be successful.

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