Development and evaluation of a context-aware ubiquitous learning environment for astronomy education

In recent years information technology has been integrated into education to produce a series of trends, beginning with “electronic learning” (e-learning), through “mobile learning” (m-learning) and finally to “ubiquitous learning” (u-learning), which aims to improve learner motivation through overcoming the conventional limitations of time and location. U-learning practices are still being developed, and learners frequently experience difficulty focusing on learning objectives, and effective learning strategy tools are still lacking. This study reports the design of a context-aware astronomy learning system. The system integrates several technologies, including radio frequency identification, wireless communication networks, handheld mobile devices, and databases to help students learn astronomical concepts. Two content modules were developed in the context of natural science education for fifth-grade elementary school students in Taiwan. Indicators of user experience with the system were collected for further phenomenographic analysis, based on four perspectives of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model to assess learner willingness to use this novel u-learning approach. Results show that ease-of-use and the availability of immediate operational or technical support are key factors in increasing learning motivation and performance.     

A context-aware ubiquitous learning approach for providing instant learning support in personal computer assembly activities

Personal computer assembly courses have been recognized as being essential in helping students understand computer structure as well as the functionality of each computer component. In this study, a context-aware ubiquitous learning approach is proposed for providing instant assistance to individual students in the learning activity of a computer-assembly course. In addition to comparing the learning achievements and learning satisfaction of the students who learned with context-aware ubiquitous learning and conventional technology-enhanced instruction, the computer-assembling performance, cognitive load, learning perceptions, as well as the learning attitudes of the students are also discussed. It was found that those students utilizing context-aware ubiquitous learning achieved better effects than those with conventional technology-enhanced learning. Moreover, with context-aware ubiquitous learning, the field-independent students presented higher acceptance of cognitive load, and more positive learning experience, learning perceptions, learning satisfaction, and learning attitudes than the field-dependent students.     

英语专业基础阶段学生词汇学习策略研究

通过问卷调查和词汇测试，运用定量研究的方法，分析了英语专业学生在基础阶段运用词汇学习策略的情况。研究表明，学习较频繁地运用各种认知策略，而对元认知策略的使用并不多；成绩优秀与成绩较差在大多数策略使用上无明显差异；有9种策略与认知词汇成绩存在正相关，3种策略与熟练掌握词汇成绩存在正相关。死记策略和翻译汉语策略分别与认知词汇成绩和熟练掌握词汇成绩存在负相关。     

大学英语词汇学习策略培训研究

采用实证性研究,对三峡大学2005级的30名非英语专业的学生进行了为期10周的词汇学习策略专门培训,通过让学生写日志的形式,了解了学生词汇学习策略培训的效果。通过词汇学习策略培训,学生普遍感到学习策略培训很有必要;绝大多数学生通过学习策略培训,了解了词汇的知识,扩大了他们学习词汇的选择范围,并使他们的自我监控能力和自主学习能力得到提高。     

Using an interactive ubiquitous learning system to enhance authentic learning experiences in a cultural heritage course

This paper proposes a novel interactive ubiquitous learning system (IULS) for authentically teaching a cultural heritage course and imparting relevant concepts to students. Experimental results demonstrated that learning performance was significantly improved after students used the IULS. This study also demonstrated that students using the IULS achieved superior results to those achieved using conventional teaching models. No gender bias affecting the performance of students in the experimental group was observed because each student consistently performed to a higher standard on the learning tasks compared with students in the control group, particularly in learning comprehension-related content. The IULS was more effective in enhancing the overall learning performance of students exhibiting different cognitive styles in liberal arts education courses. Furthermore, the results of a survey on Instructional Materials Motivation Survey revealed that Relevance was the most highly rated motivational factor among students who used the IULS, suggesting that students were motivated to use the IULS. Thus, we believe that a liberal arts education supplemented with the IULS yields a significant learning advantage for students by improving overall learning performance and motivation.     

College students’ conceptions of context-aware ubiquitous learning: A phenomenographic analysis

The purpose of this study was to explore students’ conceptions of context-aware ubiquitous learning (u-learning). The students participated in a u-learning exercise using PDAs equipped with RFID readers. The data were collected from individual interviews with each of the students by a trained researcher, and the responses of the interviewees were further analyzed using the phenomenographic method. The analysis revealed five categories of conceptions of u-learning, including “u-learning as the application of technology,” “u-learning as a platform for attaining information,” “u-learning as a timely guide,” “u-learning as increase of knowledge” and “u-learning as active learning.” There conceptions are viewed as a hierarchy, from less advanced to more sophisticated. An in-depth analysis of the students’ conceptions of learning indicated that students held multiple conceptions of u-learning. This study further suggests that inquiry practices (such as allowing open-ended exploration for the learning topic) should be addressed in u-learning activities, as these practices may foster more sophisticated conceptions of u-learning.     

试论英语词汇学习策略

运用定量和定性研究的方法,可分析出非英语专业学生在词汇学习中策略使用的总体倾向,比较善学与不善学在策略运用上的异同。研究结果表明：学生在词汇学习过程中广泛运用各种元认知策略、认知策略及社会/情感策略,善学与不善学在策略运用上存在明显差异。     

英语词汇学习中存在的问题及策略

词汇是构成语言的三要素之一,是人类用于表达思想的基础,是英语学习过程中的一个重要组成部分。如果不能掌握足够的词汇,那么听、说、读、写、译等能力的提高也就无法实现。本文从英语词汇学习中存在的问题及解决问题的基本策略论证大学英语词汇的学习方法。     

关于英语词汇教学的思考

英语词汇教学必须注重方法的指导,注意兴趣的培养,加强词汇意义的教学,遵循由“识别”到“理解”再到“使用”的规律。     

语言学习策略对大学英语词汇教学的启示

介绍了英语词汇的概况及重要性并利用六大语言学习策略具体分析和总结了大学生的英语词汇学习策略。学生应根据兴趣法则、反复循环法则、理解法则、情愿法则、先期预习法则、联想生成法则、有序法则、分解法则记忆英语单词以便在短时间内完成最新颁布的《大学英语大纲》词汇掌握的要求。最后提出了如何结合现行教材《21世纪大学英语》讲解词汇。     

The effects of instructional methods on students' learning outcomes requiring different cognitive abilities: context-aware ubiquitous learning versus traditional instruction

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the context-aware ubiquitous learning (u-learning) approach versus traditional instruction on students' ability to answer questions that required different cognitive skills, using the framework of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives, including knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis. In this study, 230 third- and fourth-grade students in 8 classes were counterbalanced and assigned to the u-learning approach and traditional instruction for learning different topics in two separate plant-observing activities. The results showed that the students who learned with traditional instruction performed better than those who used the u-learning approach in terms of answering questions that required their cognitive abilities of knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of the students' learning behaviors in the u-learning context revealed that most of their learning behaviors recorded in the u-learning system were not significantly related to their cognitive abilities.     

大学英语词汇学习分析

首先根据语言学家的观点,从教学理论的角度论述了英语词汇学习的重要性和必要性,然后简要分析了目前我国大学英语课程要求对于词汇方面的具体要求。最后从教学实践的角度提供了一些能够增强学生兴趣,提高学生学习效率的教学方法。     

浅谈隐喻理论在大学英语词汇教学中的运用

本文探究了隐喻理论与词汇学习之间存在的关联,提出几点隐喻理论在大学英语词汇教学中运用的启示。最后指出英语词汇教学过程中,英语教师可将隐喻理论运用到教学中来,帮助学生从隐喻的视角认知和理解词汇及词义之间的关联,以加深学生对词汇的理解,帮助学生灵活运用掌握词汇,促进学生语言各个方面技能的发展。     

Boosting vocabulary learning through self-assessment in an English language teaching context

This study explores the influence of self-assessment of vocabulary competence on a group of students’ oral fluency. Twenty-four young adult learners participated in a learning process that promoted their oral skills and vocabulary development. Self-assessment was mainly examined through the analysis of students’ learning logs, field notes and artefacts in the form of audio recordings. By contrasting and analysing data sources, and the results obtained from pre- and post-speaking tasks, through a mixed method design approach, it was found that when students self-assess, they are able to acknowledge their learning strengths and drawbacks. This practice enabled students to set learning commitments, use learning strategies that also allow them to raise awareness and take further actions, while self-monitoring them. Consequently, initial improvements in students’ oral fluency development were evinced through the implementation of a systematic cycle that applies self-assessment as a formative assessment source. Thus, the students entered a process in which they gradually become more able to self-monitor, judge and react towards their own gains in language and learning. Findings highlighted the value of goal setting as an essential component in self-assessment. Further longitudinal studies may well support the long-lasting effects of this strategy in similar educational contexts.     

英语词汇分析工具软件的功能设计

针对英语词汇数据分析中数据采集困难的问题,编制了英语词汇分析工具软件。该软件用于对教字材料词汇数据的采集,可采集词汇分级构成数据、单词量、总词量、词汇覆盖率、词频等。     

山西省贫困县高中学生英语词汇学习策略调查研究

以山西省贫困县172名高二学生为调查对象,采用问卷调查、访谈等工具,探究高中学生英语词汇学习观念与运用词汇学习策略的总体倾向。结果表明,高中学生普遍认为应该通过运用及上下文来学习记忆词汇而不是死记硬背;在习得词汇时,使用元认知策略和社会情感策略频率较低,而使用认知策略的频率较高。     

漫谈国际经贸合同英语的词汇特色

国际经贸合同英语是法律英语的一种。合同英语的词汇与一般英语的词汇有很大的不同。本文从用词的角度着重说明了合同英语最常见的特点     

如何有效地在大学英语课堂中实施合作学习

合作学习是目前大学英语课堂中广为采用的教学策略。本文从学习小组的划分,教师的主导作用,评价的方式,合作意识的培养等方面入手,对于如何有效地在大学英语课堂中实施合作学习提出一些建议。     

浅析非英语专业学生词汇学习策略

在英语学习中词汇是极其重要的一部分,然而对于非英语专业的学生来说记住每个生词又是非常头疼的事情。文中把理论与实际密切联系起来,重点讨论了扩大词汇的一些有效策略,有助于提高非英语专业学生的阅读理解能力。     

商务英语教学中英汉词汇语义不对等及其教学策略

作为专门用途英语教学的一个重要分支,商务英语教学中英汉词汇语义的不对等现象,相较于普通英语教学中的同类现象,具有更专业化和复杂化的特点。本文拟就此现象做出分析,并结合有关学者对英语词汇学习策略的研究,对商务英语词汇的教学策略作一探讨。