Track 16. Doctoral Consortium Authors: Geovanny Alexander Abaunza and María José Rodríguez Conde https://youtu.be/35igW5e_mIE

1. Evaluation of the integration of a web
application for foreign language learning in
vulnerable rural Schools in Colombia
Author:
Geovanny Alexander Abaunza
Supervisors:
María José Rodríguez Conde
María Cruz Sánchez Gómez
Salamanca, Spain
November 3th , 2016
Doctoral Thesis Project

2. Personal Achievements
I wish to complete this research because this could be
an instrument to contribute to progress and peace of
vulnerable population groups in Colombia.
ACNUR (2016). Indigenous community Awa, Nariño - Colombia.Google Earth (2016)
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3. Doctoral Thesis Project1
1) Project Idea
2) Problem statement
3) Framework
4) Define the scope of the present investigation
5) Establishing Hypotheses
6) Research approach
7) Population and Sample
8) Compiling information
9) Analysis of data
10)Dissemination of results
1Hernández, R., Fernández, C., & Baptista, P. (2006). Metodología de la
investigación. México.
Carroll, L. (1865). Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland. Illustrated John Tenier.
2

4. Observing problems of reality
and literature review
What is the Problem?
“Underperformance of Colombian secondary students
in the area of ​​English”
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5. Doctoral Thesis Project
First Stage (2014-2015)
Very Low PROFICIENCY In 2015
EF EPI score: 46.54 #57 out of 70 countries
Very Low PROFICIENCY In 2011
EF EPI score: 42.77 # 41 out of 44 countries
Very Low PROFICIENCY In 2012
EF EPI score: 45.07 # 50 out of 54 countries
Very Low PROFICIENCY In 2013
EF EPI score: 47.07 # 46 out of 60 countries
Low PROFICIENCY In 2014
EF EPI score: 48.54 # 42 out of 63 countries
Classification Index Level English in
Colombia:
The EF English Proficiency Index4
4EF EPI 2015. The EF English Proficiency Index. (February 2015).
Retrieved March 10, 2015 from http://www.ef.com.co/epi/.
Colombian MEN2 ; Jabba3:
In 2010-2013
90% of secondary students reaches
maximum category A1 (Beginner);
2% B1 (Intermediate English);
1% B2 (Upper-Intermediate English).
In 2014-2015
88% of secondary students reaches
maximum category A1 (Beginner);
5% B1 (Intermediate English);
2% B2 (Upper-Intermediate English).
2MEN. (2014). Colombia Very Well: Programa Nacional de Inglés
2015-2025. Documento de Socialización (pp. 1-113).
3Jabba, A. M. S. (2013). Bilingüismo en Colombia. Banco de la República.
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6. Doctoral Thesis Project
First Stage (2014-2015)
This research proposes to evaluate the efficiency of the
use of learning methods with digital tools (I.E. web
application Duolingo5) in a curricular program of foreign
language for secondary students on their 6th course (11 to
15 years), in vulnerable rural learning centers in Colombia.
Project Idea
The final aim of this project is to improve the English
learning results within this particular context, when
compared with traditional didactic methodology with no
support of information and communication technologies.
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7. Acoording to Vesselinov & Grego (2012): 34 hours of
Duolingo to learn is equivalent to 1 university semester of
language teaching.
5https://www.duolingo.com
Vesselinov, R. and Grego, J. 2012. Duolingo effectiveness study. (May 2012). Retrieved June 12, 2015 from
https://s3.amazonaws.com/duolingopapers/other/vesselinov-grego.duolingo12.pdf.
The application web Duolingo (used by more than
350,000 teachers, and more than 150 million of people
all over the world, to learn a foreign language) (Duolingo,
2016)5.
It is FREE and compatible with different devices and OS
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8. Doctoral Thesis Project
First Stage (2014-2015)
Research plan and operational activities
Carroll, L. (1865). Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland. Illustrated John Tenier.
7

9. Doctoral Thesis Project
First Stage (2014-2015)
Hypothesis
Using the web applications Duolingo, can increase:
The academic performance, motivation and attitude for the foreign
language learning of the secondary school students in Colombia.
Using Duolingo and eLearning methodology could be used as support tools
and improvement in the traditional process of teaching and learning a foreign
language in vulnerable rural schools in Colombia.
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10. Doctoral Thesis Project
First Stage (2014-2015)
Research approach and Methodology
To resolve the research, a quantitative approach will be chosen by applying
a quasi-experimental design with nonequivalent groups (experimental
and control) using pretest-posttest measures. Therefore, the efficiency of the
treatment on the experimental group, controlling the possible participant
variables, will be checked (Campbell & Stanley, 1973)6.
6Campbell, D. T., & Stanley, J. C. (1973). Diseños experimentales y cuasiexperimentales en la
investigación social. Amorrortu.
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11. Doctoral Thesis Project
First Stage (2014-2015)
Compiling Information (BBDD)
Systematization: list of references and bibliographies
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12. Project Execution
Second Stage (2015-2016)
Designing the research instruments
The instruments to implement are being elaborated and validated.
They consist of: firstly, the application of an objective test; secondly,
of an ordinal scale; thirdly, of performance pills (know-how), and
finally, of an attitude Likert-type scale7.
7Likert, R. (1974). A method of constructing an attitude scale. En G. M. Maranell (ed.),
Scaling; A Sourcebook for Behavioral Scientists (pp. 233-243). Chicago: Aldine.
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13. Project Execution
Second Stage (2015-2016)
 Validation and adjustments research instruments.
 Compiling of information valid research instruments.
 Analysis, processing and interpretation of results.
 Strengthen the theoretical framework.
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Implement a Pilot Study and Previus Report
It is very important to check the feasibility, methodology and previous
behavior research, and the limitations that could be brought.

14. 13
Project Execution
Third Stage (2016-2017)
Dissemination
Thesis writing
Research stay
Work in progress…

15. Thank you
for your attention
gabaunza@usal.es
Geovanny Alexander Abaunza