Gamification meets microlearning in DuoLingo’s approach to online language learning. DuoLingo is language-learning platform that includes a language-learning website and app, as well as a digital language proficiency assessment exam. To explore the tool, I signed up for a free account and reviewed the available languages available; currently, there are 68. I selected Spanish. Microlearning - Lessons are short, approximately 10 minutes each, and include reading, listening and speaking activities. Experience points are earned for each lesson and the app encourages the user to earn a certain number of experience points a day, in line with the philosophy that language should be practiced daily. Emails reminders are sent to encourage logging in and completing activities each day. Gamification - The game features of DuoLingo lessons make them fun and approachable. As with many successful online games, learners are rewarded for their progress. Streaks are recorded and posted; “badges” are colourized when a level is complete; lingots, DuoLingo currency, are earned and can be spent in the Lingot Store to purchase Power-ups and Practice options. For three days, I walked around telling friends and family “he/she/they drink(s) milk” and “eat(s) bananas” before I broke my streak. Even in 10 minute increments, there was an element missing to motivate me to practice instead of doing that other thing I had to do that seemed more important at the time. In fairness, I was using a laptop. I think the accessibility of downloading the app on a phone would help... maybe. The bite-sized lessons will mean sticking with it for the long haul. As with any language learning I’ve encountered, other than my first language, the learner begins at the very beginning; with the constructs of the language. Maybe starting with something that allows learners to use the language in a meaningful way immediately, and then working on conjugating the verb “to eat” would be more motivating? I’m thinking something that mimics first language learning. I could speak long before I learned what the elements of the language were. From the perspective of an adult learner, DuoLingo does a good job of engaging learners. Keeping them engaged might require something more. I’ll be interested to find out more about the language learning bots currently under development. Conversational learning might be the missing element.
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What's this about?Documenting my exploration of Ed Tech and how it applies to the field of Adult Education. These are my Ang-ventures. ...see more Archives
April 2017
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