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Using Mobile Devices to Assess Language Learning
Sara Lotz and Samantha PetreeNorthern Arizona University
To start with…
Text your answer to the following question: Do you own a smartphone, iPod touch, iPad or tablet and have it here with you?
Yes: text 75171 to the number 37607
No: text 75172 to the number 37607
If you have a smartphone, iPod touch or iPad, please download the following free app:
Apple: Scan Android: QR Droid
Blackberry: QR code scanner Pro
MALL: An overview
MALL: Mobile Assisted Language Learning The use of mobile devices to faciliate language
learning
Mobile devices include cell phones, iPods, iPads, tablets, e-readers.
Why use mobile devices in the classroom?
The majority of students have some type of mobile device (Jee, 2011).
Today’s students are familiar with mobile devices and know how to efectively use them (Reinders, 2010).
Mobile devices contain various resources avaible to students at any time such as the Internet, cameras, dictionaries, games, etc. (Meurant, 2007).
Using mobile devices in the classroom is supported by various SLA (Second Language Acquisiton) theories (Jee, 2011).
SLA Theories Related to Technology
Interactionist Theory (Long, 1984): Learning ocurrs through interaction. Examples: Skype, social networks, GoogleVoice, blogs, chat,
texting
Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky, 1978): Learners interact and communicate with native speakers who then provide feedback and information about their language and culture. Examples: social networks, SecondLife, GoogleVoice, texting,
chats
Task-based Learning: Students perform a real-life task using the target language: writing emails, filling out applications, calling businesses in order to obtain information
Using Mobile Devices to Assess Listening Comprehension
“Find someone who…” by scanning the QR voice codes Open the QR code application on your mobile
device. Scan the QR code using your smartphone. Listen to the message. Find someone who matches the description in
the message. Write the name of that person underneath the
QR code.
Using Mobile Devices to Assess Listening and
Speaking
GoogleVoice Call the following phone number: (928) 235-
8197 Listen to the message. Leave a voicemail responding to the
message.
Using Mobile Devices to Assess Reading and
Writing Look up the current weather for a city that speaks the
language you teach. Using your mobile device go to www.weather.com Choose a city in that country. Find the high and the low for today. What is the weather like?
Sunny? Rainy? Cloudy?
Set up your response in the following format. City: High: Low: Weather:
Send your response to: [email protected]
Using Mobile Devices to Assess Vocabulary and
Grammar On your mobile device, go to the following
website: www.m.socrative.com
Enter the following room number: 84764 Type your first name & last name Wait for teacher to start the activity Read the question and click on the correct answer or
type in your response
Wiffiti.com
Answer the following question: How could you use one of the activities you learned today in your classroom?
Text your response to the following number: 87884 At the start of your message, include the
following code: @wif97031 follwed by a space, then your response
References
Jee, M. (2011). Web 2.0 Technology meets mobile assisted language learning. The IALLT Journal, 41(1), 161-175.
Meurant, R. (2007). Using cell phones and SMS in secondlanguage pedagogy. Journal of Convergence InformationTechnology, 2(1), 98-106.
Reinders, H. & Cho, M. (2011). Enhancing informallanguage learning with mobile technology- Does it work?. Journal of Second Language Teaching and Research. 1(1).
Questions