Kuang-Yun Ting (National Penghu University of Science and Technology, Taiwan)
Wen-Chi Vivian Wu (Asia University, Taiwan)
Abstract
A gamification approach should incorporate various game elements such as points, levels, and peer competition to innovate upon traditional learning methods. Our research involves Google AI's Semantris, a word-association game, which enhances word-association skills among learners by converting conscious actions into automatic responses, particularly beneficial for tasks involving repetition or spatial components. The participants included two English teachers, two engineering instructors, and 26 students from both the engineering and English departments at a university. Our multiple data collections included interviews, classroom observations, and teacher reflection journals, from which we hoped to gain insight into the teachers' and students' perspectives on the efficacy of AI-powered learning. The findings revealed that the English students primarily resorted to online dictionaries and collaborative strategies with their peers in their quest for higher scores while the engineering students quickly analyzed the game mode for patterns. They adopted a strategy of typing specific keys, leading to a rapid score increase. After experimenting with diverse learning strategies, some English majors managed to substantially raise their scores to 8000 points. This suggests that gamification techniques can be effective when implemented alongside structured course design.
ESBB Featured Session: Research Paper (In person; 25 minutes)
Technology / Online Learning / AI / CALL / MALL
Primarily of interest to teachers of university students
About the Presenter
Kuang-Yun Ting has a PhD in education from the University of Exeter, UK. Currently, she is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Foreign Languages, National Penghu University of Science and Technology. Her research interests include multimodality, action research, and technology-assisted language teaching.
Wen-Chi Vivian Wu is a distinguished professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Asia University and a consultant for the Department of Medical Research at China Medical University in Taiwan. She has published extensively in CALL- and educational technology-related SSCI journals, with research interests focusing on robotics learning, VR/AR, flipped classrooms, PBL, MALL, and cross-cultural communication. She has highly cited SSCI articles on topics including flipped instruction and learner motivation.
