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Morteza mellati (1)
1.
International Journal of
Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 19 Copyright © 2015, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. ABSTRACT The expansion of technological applications such as computers and mobile phones in the past three decades has impacted our life from different perspectives. Language teaching is no exception and like other fields of study, language teaching has also influenced by new language teaching sources and software. More recently, there has been a passion- ate debate about the usefulness of the smart-phones for educational purposes and their possible uses in English language instruction; therefore, the present study investigated the impacts of interactivity perceptions on EFL learners’ achievements in Online Mobile Language Learning (OMLL) course. To conduct the present study, 68 Iranian intermedi- ate EFL learners were chosen among which 43 participated in Online Mobile Language Learning (OMLL) course and 25 others participated in conventional language classrooms. The results of the study demonstrated that OMLL has significant effects on learners’ achievements; however, there are some challenges in conducting online mobile language learning (OMLL) courses in Iranian EFL context. The Impacts of Distance Interactivity on Learners’ Achievements in Online Mobile Language Learning: Social Software and Participatory Learning Morteza Mellati, Department of English, Islamic Azad University-Qom Branch, Qom, Iran Marzieh Khademi, Department of English, Baqer-al-Oloum University, Qom, Iran Keywords: Distance Learning, E-Learning, Long-Life Learning, Mobile Learning, Social Networks, Technology-Based Instruction, Virtual Learning DOI: 10.4018/ijwltt.2015070102
2.
Copyright © 2015,
IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 20 International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 INTRODUCTION Information and Communication Tech- nology (ICT) has great impacts on human life from various perspectives. People communicate with each other via new technological devices such as mobile phones, social networking, tex- ting via the internet, as well as visiting various webs without limits. Educa- tion world is no exception. The use of ICT in language teaching and learning might have a positive effect on learners’ academic achievements (Hartoyo, 2009; Mellati & Khademi, 2014). Employing technological devices in language learn- ing improves the quality of education. Social network is a new and updated trend in the technology world that has been referred to networked tools that allow learners to communicate, interact and share their ideas and interests with each other (Aderson, 2010). Social net- works such as WhatsApp have opened up new interaction opportunities among teachers and learners. The use of social networks is becoming popular in every- day communication. It is even used for collaborative learning tasks, especially in language learning. Contemporary educational policy, curriculum designing, and instructional pedagogy have been profoundly affected by impressive new global information and communication technologies (Celce- Murcia, Brinton, & Snow, 2014). New modern language competencies include the ability to collaborate with others on processes of problem-solving, textual co-construction, negotiation, and co- operative production and presentation even when working in different loca- tions and connecting only by these new technologies. Like other fields of study, language teaching have also influenced by new language teaching sources and software. (Chipunza, 2013). They stated that wireless technologies such as laptop computers, mobile phones, especially smart-phones, create a revolution in education that transform the traditional classroom-based learning into lifelong learning. Increasing access to internet resources, language learners have an affluence of authentic oral, written, linguistic corpora and concordant pro- grams that help them solve their language problems. Guy (2010) declared that the field of mobile learning is relentlessly advancing and there are some research studies that explore the advances of mobile technologies in learning environ- ments unfold on a regular basis and there have been several attempts to classify the definitions of mobile learning used in the literature into a comprehensive framework, e.g.Traxler (2010) identified that three categories of mobile learning have been used in past literature.The first category was those early approaches to define mobile learning tended to focus on the nature of mobile devices, refer- ring particularly to handheld or palmtop electronic devices. The next category exhibited a greater focus on mobility, but was largely still directed towards the mobility of the technology. The last category emphasized the mobility of the learners and the learning process. Farley, Murphy, and Rees (2013) stated that those definitions that incorporate a description of the technology are in
3.
Copyright © 2015,
IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 21 danger of becoming obsolete as mobile technologies, mobile applications, and the capabilities of these technologies are changing in a rapid velocity. Although previous research studies pointed out several challenges in adopt- ing E-learning environments in language education and in the EFL contexts, it has also identified numerous advantages of such technology-based instructions. Kukulska-Hulme and Shield (2008) demonstrated that Mobile learning (M- learning) or Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) refers to any form of learning that happens when the learner is not at a fixed, predetermined loca- tion. In these kinds of distance learning, learners take advantage of the learning opportunities offered by mobile tech- nologies and are acknowledged as an interactive type of technology-based in- struction. The magnificence of this kind of learning is that learners are actively involved in learning activities and tasks by interaction and collaboration using a smart-mobile phone. In Kukulska- Hulme’s (2006) words, Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) illustrated an approach to language learning that is enhanced through utilizing a mobile device. MALL is a subcategory of both Mobile learning (M-learning) and Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL). In MALL settings, learners are able to access language learning materi- als, and communicate with their teachers and peers at anytime and anywhere. Hsu, Wang, and Comac (2008) expressed that the emergence of the third generation (3G) of mobile services was a revolu- tion in language learning and provided the potential of becoming widely used effective learning tools. Klopfer, Squire, and Jenkins (2002) declared five features of mobile technology that can increase educational benefits. These five features that are among the most important ones are as follows: Portability, social interac- tivity, context sensitivity, connectivity, and individuality. Wong (2012) claimed thatthemostsignificantfeatureofMALL is that it is instructive and stated that in a mobile learning context, learners can take part in the interactive creation or analysis of internet video clips, or they can read or respond to blogs with English language users worldwide who share their interests and knowledge. There have been many research stud- ies that were conducted on the applica- tions of mobile phones and the potential of mobile devices for language learning environments in language learning and teaching in different contexts (Stock- well,2007);however,therehavebeende- batable claims about the effectiveness of smart-phones for educational purposes and their possible uses in English lan- guage instruction (Zurita & Nussbaum, 2007; Yang et al., 2013). Iran is one of the world’s developing countries with a vast population. Whereas the developed countries like USA, Japan, andAustralia are now using a variety of technologies to provide learning inputs and to train the teachers, E-learning and M-learning are truly absent in Iran language learning contexts and only very few universities support E-learning. The massive cost of electronic devices, lack of ubiqui- tous availability of internet in Iranian contexts, and especially lack of skilled
4.
Copyright © 2015,
IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 22 International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 teachers, distance learning or E-learning environments cannot be established in Iran generally.Against all these difficul- ties, the expansion of mobile service leads to the rapid growth of mobile users in this decade. Within a very short time, the number of mobile users expanded to a large extent. The country is connected to information and communication at a large extent with the increasing expan- sion of mobile use. Moreover, the learn- ers are frequent users of mobile phones and familiar with the mobile devices; this is true for the learners of both urban and rural places. Accordingly, it will be plausible to use mobile phone as a tool for learning, especially for language learning. Language learners use the mobile phone in their daily life – both as learners and as ordinary citizens. They use their phones usually for com- municating with the parents, friends and teachers and recreational purposes rather than learning English. They also send SMS, take photos, enjoy music, play games and can browse the Internet. This Internet connection with a mobile phone offers fantastic opportunities to use this device as a tool to learn foreign language more effectively. Powerful features and functions of mobile devices offer smart-phone users such as teachers and instructional designers great potential and feasibility for educational use, es- pecially in the M-learning that will give people from diverse fields a new way to learn; therefore, the main purpose of this study is to provide a better understanding of the characteristics of mobile learning in the context of distance education and persuade instructional designers and in- dividual learners continue to incorporate mobile technologies into their teaching and learning efficiently and pursue their educational purposes in the pedagogical framework of M-learning. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Mobile Learning or Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) With the blooming of the digital age in 1990s, teachers were among the first that found creative and innovative ways to teach through integrating digital technologies such as Internet and other similar digital technologies like E-mail, Web quest, instant messaging, and Web-based groups in their classrooms (Bachmair, Pachler, and Cook, 2009). The advances in technology and wireless networking expanded the opportunities of utilizing mobile phones in educa- tional environments. Mobile phones and similar technologies suggest com- municative language practice, access to authentic content, and task completion (Chinney, 2006). A review of the litera- ture has revealed that many researchers have highlighted the advantages of technology-based learning, especially mobile learning that is also called M- learning in the field of English language teaching. In fact, M-learning deals with concepts such as spontaneous, informal, pervasive, private, context-aware, and portable learning environments (Traxler, 2010). Bachmair et al. (2009) defined
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 23 M-learning as the process of coming to know and the ability to operate suc- cessfully in modern and ever changing learning contexts and to know how to utilize modern technological devices. These devices have generated a branch of studies that relates to language learning and mobile technologies that are called Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL). MALL allows learners to access learning materials and information from anywhere and at anytime. Due to the wireless technology, smart-phones can be used both for formal and infor- mal language settings where learners can access additional and personalized learning materials from the Internet. Indeed, learners do not have to wait for a certain time to learn or go to a certain place to learn what is prescribed to them (Ally, 2009). Smart-phones are excellent tools to assist learners to learn English vocabulary more effectively (Gao, Luo, & Zhang, 2012; Lu, 2008; Looi et al., 2011). Smart-phones are effective, espe- cially for synchronous and asynchronous learning environments and for promoting learners’ listening and speaking skills (Kukulska-Hulme & Shield, 2008; Chin- nery, 2006). They asserted that most mobile devices support collaborative speaking and listening activities success- fully. Similarly, Chang (2010) declared that technologies and mobile devices facilitate the development of collabora- tive learning environments. Shen et al. (2009) maintained that the opportuni- ties that these devices offer to learners engaged them enthusiastically in the English language process. They added that social networking services such as mobile devices are high-quality means of enhancing learners’ communicative competence. Mobile phones are widely used among young people for two important reasons: first, they are much cheaper and more available than other devices such as laptops and palmtops; second, they not only support the transmission and delivery of multimedia materials, but also support discussion and discourse, real-time communication, synchronous and asynchronous environments, audio capability, text and multimedia inputs; therefore, stakeholders and curriculum designers seek to use them in educa- tional environments (Kress & Pachler, 2007; Kukulska-Hulme & Shield, 2008; Traxler, 2010). These kinds of tools can be best put into practice in language teaching and learning contexts. For example, mobile phones can be used to send educational materials and con- tents to learners via Internet or in the simplest one in Short Massage Services (SMS) (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010; Lu, 2008; Looi et al., 2011). In contrast, some researchers contended that in an effective language setting, the emphasis should be on language learners, because employing such a novel and unproven technology in learning environments is a real waste of time and money than save them (Colpaert, 2004; Beatty, 2003). Social Learning and Social Networks Another significant feature of modern technologies is their evolutionary role in social networking. Social networking
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 24 International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 sites like Facebook, twitter, and mobile social networks such as WhatsApp, Viber, and Line attract and support networks of people and facilitate con- nections between them. Gee (2004) called these social network contexts as affinity spaces, where learners acquire both social and communicative skills. While developing a range of digital lit- eracy in these spaces, the youth involve in informal learning activities, creative and expressive forms of behavior, and seek new identities. Effective use of social networking and media technologies provide extraor- dinary opportunities for course designers and instructors to interject emotions in the online learning environments, thus providing learning opportunities for learners to make emotional connections with classmates just as they do in the real time out of the classrooms (Richard & Haya, 2009). Obviously, the key to a successful online learning course is to help learners find innovative ways to establish strong relationships with their peers and teachers, although simultane- ously meeting their technology-based learning styles (Kirschner & Karpinski, 2010). These social media tools create a constructivist learning environment which allows learners to construct in- terpretations of their data and utilize their individual life experience while working as a part of a collaborative team (McLoughlin & Lee, 2007). Learners can use social networking to create their own learning and social communities and their new identities (Richard & Haya, 2009). These online, social, and self-directed learning settings provide resources that enhance learners’ en- gagement in the course. There are many social media tools that can be integrated into the curriculum to support learning and provide innovative and effective directions for content delivery in both synchronous and asynchronous language learning environments (Klamma et al., 2007). At the core of this new wave of social media tools in the present study is WhatsApp mobile software. The review of the literature con- cerned with mobile learning has shown that little has been written on the pos- sibility of employing smart-phones to enhance EFL learners’ idioms and col- locations. The current study reported the findings of a study conducted on 43 learners enrolled in the Online Mobile Language Learning (OMLL) course compared with 25 others who par- ticipated in the conventional language classrooms in some language institutes in Iran; therefore, the present study in- vestigated the impacts of OMLL course on learners’ achievements. Along with the discussion of the potential benefits, the study also discussed the challenges of utilizing WhatsApp in EFL learning contexts. Considering the above men- tioned statements, the following research question had raised in the current study. RQ: Does participating in OMLLcourse have any effect on the retention of idioms and collocations of Iranian Intermediate EFL learners?
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 25 METHODOLOGY Participants Sixty eight female learners from Iranian intermediate EFLcontexts were selected as the participants of the present study. They enrolled in a conversation course (Top Notch 3). All of the participants accepted to participate in the study vol- untarily. They all were informed about the nature of the study from the begin- ning and that they were ensured that their identity to the survey would be held in strict confidence and also were allowed to withdraw their contributions at any time without penalty.All the participants (N= 68), aged 18 to 35, attended four separated classes taught by four teach- ers. Two classes (N= 25) were chosen as the control groups and the two others (N= 43) as the experimental groups. The results of TOEFL test at the onset of the study demonstrated that participants in all experimental and control groups were similar in language proficiency. In control groups, teachers taught idioms and collocations similar to most conven- tional language classrooms. Learners in experimental groups had participated in OMLL course. Description of the Course The Online Mobile Language Learn- ing (OMLL) course was designed for intermediate educators who wish to de- velop their language proficiency through computer-mediated communication.The OMLL course ran using the WhatsApp mobile application. There were 43 learn- ers in this course. All were based in Iran with 20 based in Qom province and 23 in Shiraz. Nine members of the course had access to the Internet only at their homes while the others had access both at home and at work. The OMLL course lasted one month and the learners were taught via theWhatsApp mobile applica- tion. The course was divided into two main stages: Stage 1: Familiarization with the course and its instruction, Stage 2: Using WhatsApp mobile application for Learning language in an ICT learn- ing context. In these two groups: one from Qom and one from Shiraz, learners received one track of VOA English in a minute along with two collocations in an online session. Every track of English in a minute introduced one idiom in a minute. Learners could ask to com- municate through WhatsApp to work out on specific questions about online course design as well as its contents. Unstructured collaborative learning began with learners sharing any diffi- culties that they were having in getting online and continued through all the stages of the course. The course chair, Marzieh Khademi, described one of her objectives of the course as creating a learning community. In such a learning community, learners are liable to learn as much from one another as from course materials or from the interjections of a tutor. The main aim of the OMLL course specified in the course guide was that learners should, by the end of the course, use and reproduce sentences with the idioms and the collocations that learned in the online training course.
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 26 International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 Instrumentations To determine the effects of OMLL on learners’ language proficiency, the fol- lowing instruments were employed in the present study. Whatsapp Application WhatsApp instant messaging is a cross- platform smart-phone messenger that helps users network socially in real time. WhatsApp provides online users the ability to send and receive a variety of media such as images, videos and audio media messages (Albergotti, MacMillan & Rusli, Evelyn, 2014). WhatsApp instant messaging handles ten billion messages per day (Olanof, 2012). It has over 450 million monthly active users. Additionally, 700 million photos are shared daily, and 10 billion messages are also shared daily (Parmy, 2013). The WhatsApp platform has the following collaborative features: • Provides online learners with the ability to exchange text messages, images, videos, and voice notes to their social network or group and contacts; • Provides learners or teachers with the ability to create a group that supports the social interactions. Members can engage in discussion forums; • WhatsApp Messenger provides the ability for learners to send messages without limits; • Learners using WhatsApp through a variety of mobile devices, such as smart-phones, tablets, and so on can message one another through texts, images, videos, and so on (Sushma, 2012). Researchers-Made Idioms and Collocations Test A test was developed from Collocations in Use (McCarthy & O’Dell, 2002) text book and English in a Minute videos (from VOA learning English series) by the researchers to determine the learners’ idiom and collocation competence at the outset and after treatment of this pretest- posttest study. This researchers-made course-based test contained 30 items; thirty multiple choice questions similar to the content of the text book and the learning English program (10 idioms and 20 collocations). This test was reviewed by three experts in the field and then was piloted with 20 learners of similar test-takers. Cronbach’s Alpha formula for multiple choice items was employed; the results showed a reliability index of .824 (r= .824). Procedures To check learners’competency in idiom and collocation at the outset of the study, the researchers administered a research- ers-made test as pretest. The treatment lasted one month, three sessions per weekforconventionalcontrolgroupsand everyday online sessions (OMLL) for ex- perimental groups. In the control group, like an ordinary conversation classroom, learners had a topic to speak about as well as two idioms and four collocations. Both control groups and experimental
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 27 groups received thirty idioms and sixty collocations during the courses. The experimental groups had the basic re- quirements of participating in an OMLL course, such as smart phones, WhatsApp application, and internet access. Before initiating the course, teachers delivered learners the required rules about how to work with WhatsApp application and how to assess each other, and provided feedback through clear examples. They were allowed to check online sources such as online dictionaries and online grammar sources to find examples of those idioms and collocations’usage. In the experimental group, the participants shared their ideas and sentences via WhatsApp software in a synchronous learning environment. With practice, learners assessed each other consistently and fairly. They discussed about choos- ing the right word, or sentence structure in the OMLL course. The same idioms and collocations were presented to both experimental and control groups; that is, the content of all four groups were the same. After the treatment, as the last phase of the study, the same researchers- made test was administered as posttest to determine the effect of this study’s special treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS To determine the impacts of OMLL course on learners’ achievement, the researchers conducted this quasi-ex- perimental research and the results of quantitative results are represented as shown in Table 1. The results of table 1 represent that there was an enhancement in learners’ scores during conventional language classrooms. The mean and standard deviation of pretest (M= 11.60, SD= 2.0817) are different from posttest (M= 11.80, SD= 1.9311) that confirm the above mentioned claim. These values show minor differences between tests’ scores in two administrations. To ensure whether these values were statisti- cally true between the two groups, a paired-sample t-test was employed, (see Table 2). A paired-samples t-test was con- ducted to evaluate the impacts of the intervention on learners’ scores on the participation in OMLL course. There was a statistically significant increase in test scores from Time 1 (M= 11.60, SD= 2.0817) to Time 2 {M= 11.80, SD= 1.9311, t (24) = -2.619, p <.015 Table 1. Descriptive statistics of conventional groups Paired Samples Statistics Mean N Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean Pair 1 Pretest 11.60 25 2.0817 .4163 Posttest 11.80 25 1.9311 .3862
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 28 International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 (two-tailed) for control or conventional groups. The mean increase in test scores was 0.20 with a 95% confidence interval, ranging from -.3576 to -.0424. The eta squared statistic (0.22) indicated a large effect size. The results of Table 3 compared the scores of the experimental groups in pretest and posttest and represented that there was a significant increase in learn- ers’ scores after participating in OMLL course. The mean and standard deviation of pretest (M= 11.42, SD= 2.542) are different from posttest (M= 14.49, SD= 2.114) that confirm the above mentioned claim. These values show a significant difference between tests’ scores in two administrations.To ensure whether these values were statistically true between the two groups, a paired-sample t-test was employed, (see Table 4). A paired-samples t-test was con- ducted to evaluate the impacts of the intervention on learners’ scores on the participation in OMLL course. There was a statistically significant increase Table 2. Results of paired-sample t-Test for conventional group Paired Differences t df Sig. (2-Tailed)Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Pair 1 Pretest - Posttest -.2000 .3819 .0764 -.3576 -.0424 -2.619 24 .015* Note: * is significant at the 0.05 Table 3. Descriptive statistics of OMLL course Paired Samples Statistics Mean N Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean Pair 1 Pretest 11.42 43 2.542 .388 Posttest 14.49 43 2.114 .322 Table 4. Results of paired-sample t-Test for OMLL course Paired Differences t df Sig. (2-Tailed)Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Lower Upper Pair 1 Pretest - Posttest -3.070 1.553 .237 -3.548 -2.592 -12.962 42 .000* Note: * is significant at the 0.05
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 29 in test scores of those learners that had participated in OMLL from Time 1 (M= 11.42, SD= 2.542) to Time 2 {M= 14.49, SD= 2.114, t (42) = -12.962, p <.000 (two-tailed). The mean increase in test scores was 3.07 with a 95% confidence interval, ranging from -3.548 to -2.592. The eta squared statistic (0.80) indicated a very large effect size. Based on the obtained results of this study, the learners who participated in OMLLcourse could significantly outper- form the ones in conventional or control groups; therefore, OMLL has a signifi- cant effect on the retention of idioms and collocations among Iranian intermediate EFL learners as it was evidently shown in their posttest scores. The findings of the present study may have some sug- gestions for policy makers, stakeholders, and English teachers. OMLL can be a complementary teaching tool that pro- poses learners and teachers respectively multitudinous learning and teaching op- portunities. OMLL encourages learning experiences outside of formal education; that is the learning process takes place away from the classroom environment while the learners are involved with their daily activities. The results of this study demonstrated the usefulness of What- sApp social networking in comparison with conventional learning classrooms. The mobile learning technologies help learners to create learning communities that are able to construct knowledge easily and to share it with other mem- bers. In addition to the social interac- tion between learners in such social networks, the interactions of learners with their online teachers should not be overlooked. The online teachers fa- cilitate effective learning. OMLLallows the users to send and receive messages synchronously and asynchronously; besides, it is simplistic, intuitive, and very easy to use. Learning is becoming more personal and also sociable that enables collaborative, networked and portable processes. Moreover, learning is becoming ubiquitous and different types of learning happen outside of the classroom through social cooperation and collaboration between learners to improve construction and sharing of language content and knowledge. What- sApp platform facilitates easy and quick transference of links to study materials. The high availability of teachers to the learners’ questions can potentially en- hance the learning process. WhatsApp enables learning beyond the classroom’s borders. On WhatsApp platform, learn- ers get to go over the material again at home and return to the classroom with additional knowledge. The teachers feel that their presence gives the students a sense of security. They have someone of whom they can ask questions, they don’t feel alone. Even the shy learners can see other learners’ questions and enjoy the answers shared with everyone. In brief, these kinds of teaching enhance communicative competence in learning environments. Besides, forms of deliv- ery for CLT or communication-driven learning tasks increasingly include both in-class and out-of-class online programs involving websites, internet-based proj- ect works, emails, chats, blogs, podcasts, and electronic portfolios. New online tools and devices (e.g., smart-phones)
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 30 International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 become more widely available and more versatile, new possibilities will exist for learners to access and produce language in innovative ways online. Moreover, live tutoring systems and other social networking tools enable lan- guage learners to practice using language with others around the world. Indeed, the internet, WhatsApp, and other digital tools provide endless possibilities for teachers and learners to connect with other L2 language users for a variety of meaningful purposes. Online discussion forums and distance learning such as OMLL, furthermore, are increasingly part of language courses and other aca- demic courses as well, providing learners with alternative means of participating in and contributing to discussions outside the classroom. Learners and classes in different locations can meet online via email, Skype, or other programs through formal or informal class exchanges or partnerships. Teachers and learners in more self-directed learning contexts must carefully select sites, activities, and texts to ensure that they are appropriate for the cognitive, social, and linguistic levels of their learners. However, de- velopments in digital information and communication technologies offer learn- ers almost limitless access to language input, interaction, and output, and offer real purposes for communication. Like other innovations, the actual learning, skills, and forms of participation should be monitored carefully to ensure that they are compatible with learning objectives of the learners and the programs. That is, novel interaction formats may initially engage learners’ interests, but soon dis- appear if the content is unsubstantial and motivation is not in meaningful ways. In addition to its advantages, using WhatsApp platform in the language classroom has faced learners with some learning challenges. The main challenge is the fact that not all learners possess a Smart-phone or the required application. Next, it is possible that some teachers and learners been swamped with too many messages, in a way that bother and annoy them, especially if they have more than one group or groups that are bigger than 20 learners; it is really time-consuming. Or teachers were bothered by the late hours in which the messages are sent. Beyond the learners’ high expectations of teacher’s availability, teachers are exposed to the personal lives of their learners and find themselves witnessing conversations that are not compatible with the educational path. Finally, learn- ers tend to use less formal language, even when the subject at hand is academic; teachers wondered by their learners’ manner of expression. CONCLUSION The present study investigated the im- pacts of interactivity perceptions on EFL learners’achievements in online mobile language learning (OMLL) course. The obtained results were demonstrated that the learners who participated in OMLL course could significantly outperform the ones in conventional or control groups; therefore, OMLL has a signifi- cant effect on the retention of idioms and collocations among Iranian intermediate EFL learners as it was evidently shown
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 31 in their posttest scores. Examining the educational aspects of WhatsApp has demonstrated a variety of benefits. The open style discussions in such learning environments enable the teachers to get to know their learners in depth and to create a positive atmosphere and a sense of belonging. Nevertheless, challenges such as the demand for constant avail- ability, informal language and behavior and witnessing the learners’ private world, may cause adults feel uncomfort- able. It is also worth taking into account this important point that operating such a kind of learning and establishing a group requires the teachers to invest additional time beyond their regular work hours. Stakeholders and policy makers should consider these issues that require special attention and special tools to assist teach- ers to cope, feel more comfortable, and become more efficient and less burdened in these teaching styles. Thefindingsofthepresentstudycon- firmed the findings of previous research studies that the advances in technology and wireless networking expanded the opportunities of utilizing mobile phones in educational environments. Mobile phones and similar technologies sug- gest communicative language practice, access to authentic content, and task completion (Chinney, 2006); M-learning deals with concepts such as spontaneous, informal, pervasive, private, context- aware, and portable learning environ- ments (Traxler, 2010); Smart-phones are excellent tools to assist learners to learn English language more effectively (Gao, Luo, & Zhang, 2012; Lu, 2008; Looi et al., 2011); Smart-phones are ef- fective especially for synchronous and asynchronous learning environments and for promoting learners’ listening and speaking skills (Kukulska-Hulme & Shield, 2008); technologies and mo- bile devices facilitate the development of collaborative learning environments Chang (2010); the opportunities that these devices offer learners, engage them enthusiastically in the English language process Shen et al. (2009). The findings of the current study were in contrast with Colpaert (2004) and Beatty (2003) who contend that in an effective language setting, the emphasis should be on language learners, because employing such a novel and unproven technology in learning environments is a real waste of time and money than save them. From the preceding discussions, it is evidently clear that; whatsapp can be an effective learning tool for learners in institutions in Iran. This stems from the fact that, it can enhance the performance of language learners if used positively. With that, it makes communication easier and faster, thereby enhancing effective flow of information and idea sharing among them. However, if used negatively it has adverse impacts on the performance of learners. Among the negative impacts that have identified include the following: it takes much of the learners’ study time, destroys learn- ers’grammar and spellings, leads to lack of concentration during lectures and difficulty in balancing online activities and academic preparation. Social networking devices and soft- ware provide abundant opportunities to take the social interaction to deeper lev-
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 32 International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 els and concentrate on learning styles that are rooted in modern digital technolo- gies. It is time to reform our perception of instructional design and investigate new content delivery options to support both the asynchronous and synchronous educational tasks that most benefit the expectations of today’s learners; there- fore, course designers and teachers should consider new social networking technologies and integrate them into the curriculums and adopt them into learn- ing style of the online course design. However, there are some questionable notions that should be highlighted in future research studies; e.g. having ac- cess to a wealth of resources and new communication media does not lead to learning; nor does it constitute pedagogy. Critics of E-learning often characterize online classrooms as neutral spaces de- void of human connection, emotion, or interaction with instructors or peers. For future research, it may be more helpful to examine how learners’ psychological state influences motivations for the use of WhatsApp and other social network- ing technologies. REFERENCES Albergotti, R., MacMillan, D., & Rusli, E. M. (2014). Facebook’s $19 Billion Deal Sets High Bar. The Wall Street Journal. pp. A1, A6. Andrew, Nusca. (2009). Smartphone vs. feature phone arms race heats up; which did you buy? ZDNet. Ally, M. (Ed.). (2009). Mobile learning: Transforming the delivery of education and training. Edmonton: AU Press. Anderson, T. (2010). Social Networking. In MISHRA S (Ed) Stride Handbook 8- E-Learning. IGNOU. Retrieved on June 2013 from http://webserver.ignou. ac.in/institute/STRIDE_Hb8_webCD/ STRIDE_Hb8_index.html Bachmair, B., Pachler, N., & Cook, J. (2009). Mobile phone as cultural resources for learning: an analysis of educational structures, mobile expertise and emerging cultural practices. In J. Bang & Ch. Dalsgaard (Eds.), Media in the knowledge society: Special Issue of journal Learning and Media (pp. 1–29). MedienPädagogik. Beatty, K. (2003). Teaching and re- searching computer-assisted language learning. Essex, England: Pearson Education Limited. Celce-Murcia, M., Brinton, D. M., & Snow, A. S. (2014). Teaching English as a second or foreign language (4th ed.). USA: Heinle & Heinle, Thomson Learning. Chang, C.K. (2010). Acceptability of an asynchronous learning forum on mobile devices. Behaviour & Infor- mation Technology, 29(1), 23–33. doi:10.1080/01441806337 Chinnery, M. G. (2006). Going to the MALL: Mobile Assisted Language Learning. Language Learning & Tech- nology, 1, 9–16.
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IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 10(3), 19-35, July-September 2015 35 Sushma, P. (2012). WhatsApp founder to operators: We’re no SMS- killer, we get people hooked on data. The Next Web. Traxler, J. (2010). Distance education and mobile learning: Catching up, tak- ing stock. Distance Education, 31(2), 129–138. doi:10.1080/01587919.2010 .503362 Wong, L. H. (2012). A learner-centric view of mobile seamless learning. British Journal of Educational Technol- ogy, 43(1), 19–23. doi:10.1111/j.1467- 8535.2011.01245.x Yang, Y., Zhang, L., Zeng, J., Pang, X., Lai, F., & Rozelle, S. (2013). Computers andtheacademicperformanceofelemen- tary school-aged girls in China’s poor communities. Computers & Education, 60(1), 335–346. Retrievedjuly152014. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2012.08.011 Zurita, G., & Nussbaum, M. (2007). A conceptual framework based on activ- ity theory for mobile CSCL. British Journal of Educational Technology, 38(2), 211–235. doi:10.1111/j.1467- 8535.2006.00580.x Morteza Mellati received his M. A. in TEFL at the English Department, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Torbat-e-Heydarieh Branch, Iran. His areas of interests are teacher education, teacher development, ESP, Curriculum design, Technol- ogy-based instruction, and e-learning. He has presented and published articles on teachers’beliefs, parent literacy, writing skill, and e-learning. He has other articles under publication. Marzieh Khademi received her M. A. in TEFL at the English Department, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Torbat-e-Heydarieh Branch, Iran. Her areas of interests are teacher education, learning styles, Technology-based instruction, and e-learning. She has presented and published articles on learning styles, parent literacy, writ- ing skill, and e-learning. She has also other articles under publication.
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