Background
The FÓN project is the second phase of work in integrating mobile phones and networked computers into teaching and learning Irish at post-primary level.
FÓN’s predecessor was a project called MALL, which stood for Mobile-Assisted Language Learning.
Through the course of MALL, we worked with three second year classes in one school trialling the use of mobile phones and networked computers for teaching, learning and assessing Irish. MALL took place in 2007.
Mobile phones and text-based web chat were employed to facilitate teachers in their planned course of Irish work. Vocabulary was delivered daily by SMS and students logged into a voice prompt system where their responses to questions were recorded for teachers to provide feedback on later. The text-based web chat paired students anonymously to chat (through text) about a teacher-selected topic.
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- MALL project student
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- MALL project class
What did we find out in MALL?
Students reported speaking more Irish and being more motivated to speak Irish. They remarked on their increased competency with specific references to comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and grammar. Students enjoyed the use of ‘new age’ technologies to learn and speak Irish and the autonomous learning facilitated by the any time/any place access to the system. The technologies employed didn’t represent any barrier to learning, in fact, students reported that their use broke down barriers and that they were more comfortable and confident using them as a medium for learning than more traditional methods.
Teachers commented on students’ increased motivation for learning and speaking Irish. They emphasised the positive shift from more teacher-led learning to student-led learning and the student autonomy the system facilitated. Teachers appreciated the new and more interactive way to provide feedback to students and that the system allowed them more contact time with each student, especially those who would usually be quieter in class. Teachers noted that students showed improved self-esteem and confidence in speaking Irish.
Resources:
Read an article in NCCA’s magazine info@ncca about the MALL project
Read about MALL in the Irish Independent
© NCCA 2009
