Screen Interface Design for Mobile-assisted Language Learning in EFL Context: A Case Study in Japan

Abstract

Abstract-MobileTechnology is constantly evolving and offering new capabilities for supporting higher data transmission, storage, and multimedia formats that can be beneficial for Language Acquisition. Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) publications have been reviewed for two main perspectives: The Content -based approach and the Design-issues approach. This study focuses on understanding these approaches and identifying their main challenges specific to MALL activities. Mobile-based e-learning applications and learning possibilities are tied to the physical attributes of the device, graphical user interface, and the cost of services, collaboration tools, Internet access, and computation capabilities. This article reports extensively on the results of a focus group-oriented study undertaken using an IPod-based English learning application for five advanced (graduate) EFL (English as foreign language)-based students in a Japanese technical university. Results from this pilot analysis were reported towards exploring the design of the IPod interface and how it contributes towards mobile assisted language learning. Results indicate that students are mostly comfortable using handheld devices and completed tasks with reasonable success and efficiency. However, they faltered with few steps mainly due to complexity of the screen interface (lack of on-screen guidance), transition within and between steps, and unresponsive system. The qualitative analysis focused mostly on the design of the graphical user interface, its delivery methods, and user preference and information access patterns. Several recommendations are made for both the design of the interface and how content should be structured.

The Trends in Mobile Learning

“…The results supported the importance of a user-friendly interface design, as well as an effective use of games, listening and reading activities in language learning. [11] This finding continues to support the importance of instructional design for mobile devices.…”

Are Mobile Devices More Useful than Conventional Means as Tools for Learning Vocabulary?

“…In this regard, multimedia technology can function as a facilitator in the process of language learning (Taki & Khazaei, 2011). When integrating this multimedia, education apps should be straightforward and easy to use (Cortez & Roy, 2012), as well as enjoyable. With the aforementioned difficulties some students have with inputting a large amount of text into a mobile device, multiple choice questions may be the most appropriate format to use (Gimenez et al, 2009) when designing education software.…”

Use of Design Patterns According to Hand Dominance in a Mobile User Interface

“…Mobile DPs are templates for the management of applications' UIs (Rohse & Anderson, 2006). They guide the development of applications, but designers are not obliged to follow them (Cortez & Roy, 2012). Furthermore, design affects the way in which users access information by integrating the information into the course of seeking and processing learning material in ways that extend beyond psychological evaluation to more basic cognitive processes (Newell, Gregor, Morgan, Pullin, & Macaulay, 2011).…”

“…The design of patterns and their distribution across the screen affect control of the learning activity. Cortez and Roy (2012) acknowledged this assumption, finding that organization of elements in learning activities is strongly associated with the learner's level of control, which has also been associated with hand dominance in task performance (Hopkins et al, 2011). Tomberg, Laanpere, Ley, and Normak (2013) identified hand dominance as a mechanism through which learners should be able to easily access materials.…”

“…They need to understand users’ preferences, which may not be standardized, because of the varied and complex personal information-management tasks performed by today’s users. Cortez and Roy (2012) indicated that the user is able to use a new system if there is a common interface between that system and another. The literature thus suggests that DPs for mobile UIs should be unified to meet user expectations.…”