Learner Interactions (learner + interaction)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


What Does Metalinguistic Activity in Learners' Interaction During a Collaborative L2 Writing Task Look Like?

MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2008
XAVIER GUTIÉRREZ
This article examines the metalinguistic activity that arose in the interaction of 7 groups of bilingual learners writing collaboratively in their second language (L2), English. A microanalysis of this interaction reveals that metalinguistic activity comprises 3 types of oral production: comments, speech actions, and text reformulations. Text reformulations were the most frequent type of oral production in 4 of the 7 groups, whereas in the remaining 3 groups, comments were the most frequent. Moreover, the analysis shows that comments always constituted explicit metalinguistic activity, that speech actions always comprised implicit metalinguistic activity, and that text reformulations could contain either explicit or implicit metalinguistic activity. All groups in the study exhibited implicit metalinguistic activity more frequently than explicit metalinguistic activity. Based on these findings, this article shows the importance of implicit metalinguistic activity in collaborative interaction and argues that it is a significant component of attention to language that has largely been ignored in the literature. It also argues that implicit metalinguistic activity needs to be examined further to determine the language representations underlying this activity. The article concludes by outlining a working hypothesis about the nature of these representations. [source]


Currents and eddies in the discourse of assessment: a learning-focused interpretation1

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS, Issue 2 2006
Pauline Rea-Dickins
évaluation formative de la langue; évaluation sommative de la langue; enseignement; l'anglais en tant que langue supplémentaire (seconde); interaction dans la classe This article explores processes of classroom assessment, in particular ways in which learners using English as an additional language engage in formative assessment within a primary school setting. Transcript evidence of teacher and learner interactions during activities viewed by teachers as formative or summative assessment opportunities are presented as the basis for an analysis of teacher feedback, learner responses to this feedback, as well as learner-initiated talk. The analyses suggest that there are different teacher orientations within assessment and highlight the potential that assessment dialogues might offer for assessment as a resource for language learning, thus situating this work at the interface between assessment and second language acquisition. The article also questions the extent to which learners are aware of the different assessment purposes embedded within instruction. Cet article explore les procédés d'évaluation pratiqués dans les salles de classe des écoles primaires en particulier les méthodes que les apprenants de l'anglais seconde langue utilisent dans le cadre d' une évaluation formative. Les transcriptions des interactions entre l'enseignant et l'apprenant durant les activités considérées par les enseignants comme étant des opportunités d'évaluation à la fois formatives et sommativesforment la base de l'analyse du feedback de l'enseignant, des réponses de l'apprenant à ce feedback ainsi que du discours initié par l'apprenant. Les analyses suggèrent qu'il existe différentes orientations de la part de l'enseignant au sein de l'évaluation et mettent en valeur le potentiel que les dialogues d'évaluation peuvent offrir en tant que ressource dans l'apprentissage d'une langue, situant ainsi ce travail dans l'interface entre l'évaluation et l'acquisition d'une seconde langue. L'auteur de cet article se demande à quel point les apprenants sont conscients des différents objectifs d'évaluation ancrés dans l'enseignement. [source]


The impact and implications of virtual character expressiveness on learning and agent,learner interactions

JOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING, Issue 4 2009
G. Veletsianos
Abstract The possible benefits of agent expressiveness have been highlighted in previous literature; yet, the issue of verbal expressiveness has been left unexplored. I hypothesize that agent verbal expressiveness may improve the interaction between pedagogical agents and learners, ultimately enhancing learning outcomes. Evidence from a quasi-experimental investigation, indicates that learners who interacted with an expressive agent 1) scored higher on a post-task exam; and 2) rated the agent's ability to interact higher, than learners who interacted with a nonexpressive agent. Qualitative results provided insight into this finding, while indicating the complexity of deploying pedagogical agents in educational settings. [source]


Children's interactions with interactive toy technology

JOURNAL OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING, Issue 2 2003
R. Luckin
Abstract Digital toys offer the opportunity to explore software scaffolding through tangible interfaces that are not bound to the desktop computer. This paper describes the empirical work completed by the CACHET (Computers and Children's Electronic Toys) project team investigating young children's use of interactive toy technology. The interactive toys in question are plush and cuddly cartoon characters with embedded sensors that can be squeezed to evoke spoken feedback from the toy. In addition to playing with the toy as it stands, the toy can be linked to a desktop PC with compatible software using a wireless radio connection. Once this connection is made the toy offers hints and tips to the children as they play with the accompanying software games. If the toy is absent, the same hints and tips are available through an on-screen animated icon of the toy's cartoon character. The toys as they stand are not impressive as collaborative learning partners, as their help repertoire is inadequate and even inappropriate. However, the technology has potential: children can master the multiple interfaces of toy and screen and, when the task requires it and the help provided is appropriate, they will both seek and use it. In particular, the cuddly interface experience can offer an advantage and the potential for fun interfaces that might address both the affective and the effective dimensions of learners' interactions. [source]