This master's thesis discusses the development of mobile applications for German language acquisition. The applications were created for Android and iOS platforms and track user interactions through learning analytics. Various exercise formats are included to practice vocabulary, grammar, and other language skills. An evaluation was conducted with elementary school children to assess user experience and the applications' ability to support independent learning. The evaluation found that the children understood the exercises and could complete them successfully while also enjoying the experience. Areas for further development were also identified.

1. Master’s Thesis
Mobile Learning Applications for
Android and iOS for German
Language Acquisition based on
Learning Analytics Measurement
Markus Friedl
Supervisor:
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Martin Ebner
Co-Advisor:
Dipl.-Ing. Markus Ebner
31.10.2019

2. Content
Initial situation
Technical
setup /
Interfaces
Development Evaluation
2
Application

3. Initial Situation
3
Chalk and talk
http://www.bpb.de/gesellschaft/bildung/zukunft-bildung/190322/geschichte-des-lernens-mit-lehre?p=all
https://www.meinbezirk.at/graz/c-menue/schule-20-lernen-ohne-papier_a1231471

4. Problem Definition
❖ Mobile application for German language acquisition
❖ Different exercise formats and tasks
❖ Overview of learning progress
❖ Target group: elementary school children
❖ Track user interactions
❖ User experience test
4

5. Technical Setup & Interfaces
❖ User Management of IDeRBlog
❖ API for exercise data
❖ Exercises
❖ Tasks
❖ Logs
❖ User statistics
5

6. Development of the Application
❖ Native applications
❖ Android - Kotlin
❖ iOS/iPadOS - Swift
❖ Child-friendly user interface
❖ Offline support
❖ Integration tests for API
6
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/why-the-new-android-update-system-might-confuse-users/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Kotlin-logo.svg
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:IOS_logo.svg
https://developer.apple.com/swift/

7. Application - Login Screen
Android
iOS
7

8. Home Screen
8

9. Exercise List
❖ List of exercises
❖ Title
❖ Description
❖ Number depends on
reached points
9

10. Keywords
❖ Different number of
words
❖ Optional:
❖ Mark difficult parts
❖ Timer
10

11. Keywords
❖ Optional:
❖ Timer
❖ Text input
❖ Points for correct
written words
11

12. Exercise Summary
❖ Every task correct:
positive feedback
❖ Tasks with mistakes:
constructive feedback
12

13. Error Locations
❖ Detect wrong words by a
tap
❖ Select justifications
❖ Points for correct
justifications without any
mistakes
13

14. Insert
❖ Some gaps in text
❖ single characters
❖ whole words
❖ Text input
❖ Points if all gaps
correct
14

15. Match - Drag & Drop
❖ White box moveable by
drag & drop gesture
❖ Allocation to different
word categories
❖ Points for correct
allocation
15

16. Match - Write
❖ Word is spoken
❖ Allocation to different
word categories
❖ Points for correct
allocation or spelling
16

17. Wheel of Fortune
❖ Word is spoken
❖ Text input
❖ Points for correct
spelling
17

18. Evaluation - Questionnaire
18
BUNG: USER:
PC
iPad
Ich ss e, as die
A fgabens ell ng ar.
Ich konn e die A fgabe
selber l sen.
Es ha mir Spa gemach
ben.
Ich m ch e die b ng a ch
ha se machen.

19. Evaluation - Result
19
I had understood the
assignment
definition.
I was able to solve
the problems myself.
I had fun to practice.
I would also like to
do the exercise at
home.
Error locations 1 1 1,2 1,2
Insert 1,2 1 1,2 1,2
Keywords - Easy 1 1 1 1
Keywords - Hard 1 1 1 1
Match - Drag & Drop 1 1 1 1,2
Match - Write 1 1 1 1,5
Wheel of fortune 1 1 1 1
Average 1,03 1 1,06 1,16

20. Conclusion
❖ Cooperation works very well
❖ Changing requirements during development
❖ Beginning: difficult to design a child-friendly UI
❖ First prototype well accepted
❖ Good base for further development
20

21. Future work
❖ Support of “Intelligente Wörterbuch” (IDeRBlog)
❖ Badges for earned points
❖ Use without login
❖ Support smartphones
❖ New exercise formats
21

22. Markus Friedl
Mobile Learning Applications for Android and iOS for German
Language Acquisition based on Learning Analytics Measurement