S

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: techpresentation@posterous.com

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