Caratteristiche e implicazioni di una glottodidattica mobile. Un possibile quadro teorico-metodologico di riferimento

Il presente contributo intende fornire una riflessione sulle potenzialità dell’utilizzo del Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) nella didattica delle lingue a distanza. Il MALL integra l’uso dei dispositivi mobili nel processo di insegnamento linguistico (Bezircilioğlu, 2016), costituendo una modalità motivante per gli studenti, che utilizzano strumenti familiari per elaborare nuova conoscenza. In base al principio dell’anytime, anywhere (Kukulska-Hulme & Shield, 2008), gli apprendenti possono rapportarsi con il docente e i propri pari da luoghi diversi e consultare i materiali anche in modalità asincrona (Chuang, 2016). A partire dalla definizione di MALL, ci si è chiesti quali siano i benefici e i limiti di tale approccio, nonché le sue implicazioni glottodidattiche. Le risposte a tali interrogativi si inseriscono in un quadro teorico-metodologico dedicato allo sviluppo di una glottodidattica mobile standardizzata, in cui vengono forniti anche esempi di attività utili in un corso di lingua a distanza. Parole chiave: MOBILE ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING, DIDATTICA A DISTANZA, MOBILITÀ This study aims to provide further reflections on the potential of using Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) in remote language teaching. MALL integrates the use of mobile devices into the language teaching process (Bezircilioğlu, 2016), fostering students’ motivation as they use familiar tools to process new knowledge. Given the “anytime-anywhere” principle (Kukulska-Hulme & Shield, 2008), students can interact with each other and with their teacher, from different places while also consulting resources in asynchronous mode (Chuang, 2016). Starting from the definition of MALL, we question this approach in terms of its benefits and limitations, including its implications for language teaching. The answers to these questions become part of a theoretical-methodological context dedicated to the development of a standardized mobile language teaching, in which examples of useful class activities in a remote language learning course can be found. Key words: MOBILE ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING, REMOTE TEACHING, MOBILITY Esta contribución tiene como objetivo profundizar en la reflexión sobre el potencial que tiene la utilización del aprendizaje de lenguas mediante tecnología móvil, en inglés Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL), en la didáctica de lenguas a distancia. El enfoque MALL integra el uso de dispositivos móviles en el proceso de enseñanza de lenguas (Bezircilioğlu, 2016) fomentando así la motivación del alumnado a medida que este utiliza herramientas que le resultan familiares para procesar el nuevo conocimiento. Con base en el principio “en cualquier lugar y momento” (Kukulska-Hulme & Shield, 2008), el alumnado puede interactuar entre iguales y con su profesor desde diferentes lugares mientras consulta al mismo tiempo recursos de manera asíncrona (Chuang, 2016). Partiendo de la definición del MALL, cuestionamos los beneficios y las limitaciones de este enfoque, además de sus implicaciones para la enseñanza de lenguas. Las respuestas a estas cuestiones pasan a formar parte de un contexto teórico-metodológico dedicado al desarrollo de una enseñanza estandarizada de lenguas a través de dispositivos móviles en el que se pueden encontrar ejemplos de actividades útiles en un curso de aprendizaje de lenguas a distancia. Palabras clave: APRENDIZAJE MEDIANTE TECNOLOGÍA MÓVIL; ENSEÑANZA A DISTANCIA; MOVILIDAD

The Role of Self-Regulation in Remote Emergency Learning: Comparing Synchronous and Asynchronous Online Learning

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools and universities across the world have had to switch to online learning, which is offered either synchronously or asynchronously. This study examined the role of self-regulation on students’ performance in each of these modes by comparing the use of self-regulation skills between high and low achievers in each mode and assessing the relationships of using these skills with students’ performance. The data were collected from students who enrolled in a data structures course in fall 2020 in either synchronous or asynchronous mode. The results show that self-regulation is an essential factor for learners’ success in both modes of online learning. However, there was a variance of using self-regulating learning strategies between students in synchronous and asynchronous modes.

That Synching Feeling: An Exploration of Student Engagement in an Online Environment

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, universities were forced to shift to an online, remote delivery system. This paper presents the design and evaluation of two skills-based first-year units that were adapted to a predominantly asynchronous mode of delivery. The evaluation results indicate that student engagement was high, and that students felt well-supported by the strong teacher presence throughout their units. Furthermore, the impact of this engagement and support was evident in their final grades and the overall unit completion figures. These findings indicate that individualized support, teacher presence and flexibility are key factors in student success in an online environment. This suggests that asynchronous learning can be valuable to students from various academic backgrounds providing that the content and teacher are readily accessible in various formats and that the teachers are mindful of the complexities of students’ lives outside of an academic setting.

Promoting student-centred blended learning in higher education: A model

This empirical study is conducted in a blended learning setting of a technology-focused private university in Bangladesh to offer a model that could help attain a comprehensive goal of blended learning. The main objectives of this study are to examine course design in a blended learning setting, strategies adopted by the course teachers to maximize students’ online interactions in a collaborative manner and how well these strategies had an impact on quality of blended teaching and learning in tertiary education. Drawing upon a quasi-experimental approach, qualitative data were collected by observing the teaching and learning activities of a course named ‘Bangladesh Studies’ over a four-month semester. Findings of this study suggest a model that would allow better student–teacher interaction in both synchronous and asynchronous modes of teaching and learning based on three sequential stages such as referring to and discussing online peer-group comments in the regular face-to-face classes in asynchronous mode (stage 1), off-campus synchronous mode of interactions to utilize students’ personal study hours (stage 2) and off-campus asynchronous mode of interactions to offer flexibility for collaborative learning (stage 3). It is argued that the model that has been offered could be useful in promoting innovative and contextual pedagogy which will essentially involve students in sharing, interacting and collaborating discussions for knowledge construction and hereby enable overall cognitive development of students in a blended learning environment.