Nursyuhada’ Ab Wahab Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia
Wan Faizatul Azirah Ismayatim, Nur Adibah Zamri Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
Nur Dalila Mohamad Nazri, Ramiaida Darmi, Hazlina Abdullah, Haliza Harun Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia
Melor Md Yunus, Harwati Hashim Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
Highlights: MyEVO is a revolutionised self-directed learning module with the main intention of helping learners to acquire the language (specifically listening skill) through the combination of current and up-to-date technology - the Augmented Reality (AR) and mobile applications, where learners no longer need to rely on teachers to play the listening audio in class through the use of old-fashioned and traditional computers or CDs. By using their own smartphones, earphones and internet mobile data/ institutions’ wireless, they can now do listening practices at their own pace by scanning the pictures in the module that trigger the AR technology and answer the questions that follow. Another key feature of this self-directed learning module is the platform provided for its users to engage with the global context in line with the 21st century learning, named as ‘MyEVO community’. MyEVO users can share their views and opinions on the Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions with the other users all over the world. This is not only to encourage the learners to be active in their learning but also help them to understand other people’s perspective about the issue being discussed in the practice.
Keywords: augmented reality (AR), listening practices, self-directed module, video media Introduction
The emergence of wide variety of advanced technology has created a positive impact towards 21st century education. In today’s world, learners acquire new language not only through formal education in school, but also through informal way of learning where the materials and platforms are readily available online. The unlimited access to variety of reading materials, audios, videos, notes and practices provides an opportunity for learners to be autonomous in their own learning. According to Malaysia Education Blueprint for higher education (2015 – 2025), the current education system should actively pursue technologies and innovation that is relevant with the learners’ needs and able greater personalization of learning experience. learners are also expected to be proficient not only in Bahasa Melayu, but also in English language. With this high aspiration, the role of activities in English language classroom cannot be neglected.
In the past decades and even until today, listening lessons were challenging to be conducted with the use of radios where teachers played cassettes or CDs for the audio to be listened to by the students. Teachers or even students on the other hand, had difficulties to select specific tracks on the cassettes or CDs (eg. replay or pause the audio) during the listening activities. In contrast, the present listening practices in the classroom can now be conducted using any devices that have internet connection such as that of computers. This current approach of conducting the listening practices is still considered as a traditional method due to the evolution of the handheld devices and the rapidly evolving internet speed.
To ease the challenges faced in conducting the listening activities in the ESL context, My Electronic Visual &
Audio (MyEVO), a self-directed learning module is designed and developed which allows learners to become independent in performing their listening activities with little guidance and less teacher centered input where they are given the freedom to use their own personal electronic devices. Using their own smartphones, earphones or headphones and internet mobile data, they can now do listening practices at their own pace. By scanning pictures in the module that trigger the Augmented Reality, learners will also be automatically directed to the video media materials on the screen of their smartphone to assist them in completing the assigned language practices. This modern technology in teaching and learning allows students to watch the entire video even when the internet connection is very slow. This feature provides the opportunities for students to not only watch the videos, but also to replay, pause
DeTAR Putra, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
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Adopting the video media theory by Gruba (1997) as a foundation for the development of this module, authentic videos based on meaningful, real life situations were utilised as the fundamental materials. This theory supported the statement made by Prensky who wrote about the digital native learners that prefer the incorporation of multimedia as part of their learning tools. These learners spent their entire life surrounded by technologies and engaged themselves in social media platforms. They scrolled their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and etc. watching updated videos about anything whenever they want. Therefore, the development of this module tailored the learners’
need and suited the millennial learners who already equipped themselves with the IT knowledge. It is hoped that the development of this module will shed light on the new era of teaching, learning and practising learners’ listening skills in English language learning.
Content
Learners’ today want to be taught lessons as close to real life as possible (Manuel et al., 2018). Unfortunately, the current listening lessons are still using the traditional method (audio only) that does not cater to the learners’ needs for the 21st century learning. However, in today’s world where their life cannot be separated from technology and the Internet, listening lesson using audio and moving visual images (video media) is made possible for them. Learners not only have the chance to get access to millions of authentic online videos from all over the world, but also have the freedom and flexibility to pause, stop or replay the video according to their needs. Therefore, MyEVO self-directed learning module is the best tool to cater all the different needs and abilities of the learners in this digital era. Sets of listening practices consists of authentic, meaningful, and real-life situation contexts for the self-directed learning module were prepared according to the different learning outcomes for intermediate level of tertiary education learners. This innovation is aimed to modernize the existing traditional method in teaching and learning of listening skill into an on-the-go practice.
In the second language classroom where the skills in listening are concerned, the application of advanced technology in teaching is undeniably possible as today’s learners are readily equipped with smartphones and Internet connection. Thus, to be relevant with today’s situation, a model of listening practices that allow students to listen and also watch the movements and gestures of the characters in the audio (video media) is demanded. MyEVO is recommended as it is an innovation of a self-directed listening module that integrates the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and mobile applications as to give an interactive experience of a real-world environment to the learners in practicing their listening skills.
MyEVO consists of 15 sets of practices covering a variety of topics that are relevant to the students’ interests.
Each set of practice is accompanied by 1 ‘Augmented Reality (AR) trigger image’ that links the students to the video in ‘MyEvo aura’ page (the students has to download the HP Reveal application before they can get access to and follow ‘MyEVO aura’ page), 5 listening comprehension questions, 2 Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions and 1 QR code that links the students to ‘MyEVO community’ page. For listening comprehension questions, students can circle the correct answers on the module itself. While for the HOTS questions, students are required to submit their answers on ‘MyEVO community’ page where all responses submitted by all MyEVO users can be found on this interactive page. The ‘MyEVO community’ page can be accessed by scanning on the QR code attached together with each of the practice.
Importantly, through the incorporation of audio and moving visual image (video media) in completing the practices, the module is a relevant tool that meets the current learning motivation and interests of the digital natives.
It provides the students with authentic language use related to every day’s issues that are not scripted, and in a controlled learning environment. Moreover, the listening activities that occurred in MyEVO utilizes the audio as well as visual modes whereby students get to listen to the language used as well as watch the video of the given contexts.
Hence, the dual modes of learning process help the students to maximize their understanding of the language used within the authentic contexts portrayed. The value aspect of the listening materials has also been embedded in the module as to be relevant to the current revolution of Education 5.0 that injects the moral lessons to the learners. It is also to give an interactive experience of a real-world environment to the learners in practicing their listening skills.
Hedge (2008) states that in this age of science and technology, the majority of the learner possesses Android or iOS sets and mobile phones for a wide variety of purposes. Therefore, to be relevant with today’s advancement of technology, listening practices should be considered to be conducted through mobile application where students only need smartphones, earphones and Internet connection. Teachers, on the other hand, are only required to provide the modernized version module with current technology advancement such as Augmented Reality Based learning and QR code that direct the students to the listening video media. All in all, MyEvo is an empowering tool that allows students to explore the language via its listening practices that are not only easy but also interactive!
DeTAR Putra, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
182 References
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