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A mobile instructional pervasive game method for language learning

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Abstract

In this paper, a mobile instructional pervasive game (M-IPG) learning method is proposed for improving students’ learning achievements with respect to vocabulary, grammar, reading, and writing. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in an EFL course at a university school. A total of 137 university students participated in the experiment, 67 of whom were assigned to the experimental group and followed with the M-IPG approach, whilst 70 students were in the control group and was taught with the mobile inquiry-based instruction. From the empirical obtained, it was found that the proposed approach could effectively promote students’ learning achievement, as well as decrease their cognitive load of learning and perceptions of the use of M-IPG learning. It was found from the interviews that most of the participants perceived the M-IPG learning method to be a stimulating though challenging learning task that facilitated them in improving their location-based learning in the aspects of language learning and practice, learning contents recall, and confidence in using the language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information and Learning Technology, National University of Tainan, 33, Sec. 2, Shu-Lin St., Tainan, 700, Taiwan

    Ching Chang, Ju-Ling Shih & Chih-Kai Chang

Authors
  1. Ching Chang
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  2. Ju-Ling Shih
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  3. Chih-Kai Chang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ching Chang.

Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 7.

Table 7 Three stages for implementing the learning task for the two groups
Full size table

Appendix 2

See Table 8.

Table 8 Examples of learning content (sample)
Full size table

Appendix 3: Interview questions

  1. 1.

    What are the advantages of the M-IPG task in comparison with the classroom-based TBL instruction you have experienced? Why?

  2. 2.

    What are the disadvantages of the M-IPG task in comparison with the classroom-based TBL instruction you have experienced? Why?

  3. 3.

    Would you prefer to learn with this approach for other language courses in the future? Why or why not?

  4. 4.

    Do you have any suggestions that might improve the learning task?

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Chang, C., Shih, JL. & Chang, CK. A mobile instructional pervasive game method for language learning. Univ Access Inf Soc 16, 653–665 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-016-0496-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-016-0496-6

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