Purpose of the study:
This research will investigate the importance of the using technology in Education. Especially, Educational applications and social media. As for students, these programs become integral part of their life, so as a student, the researcher elaborates that from her experience.
Research objectives:
1- drawing the attention of the new students to benefit from the social media and educational applications in their education.
2- encouraging programmers to develop such these p
rograms, particularly in this field
3- changing society's perception about social media and educational application as most of people think that these programs are used only for passing the time.
Thesis Statement:
Social media and educational applications facilitate the process of English learning in many different ways. Students can use them to develop their language skill, to ease communication with others, and to save time and effort.
Methodology:
The researcher collects information from University students by writing questionnaire. She writes about 13 questions about various aspects of this topic. The questionnaire includes multiple question as well as a Single Textbox to gather students' responses and comments. The single text box gives the researcher useful comments and helpful ideas about the research topic that she uses them to support her research paper. She collects and studies the research data therefore she reaches to the conclusion of this research.
Research Approach:
The researcher depends on both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. She uses the written information available on the same topic and writes questionnaire about the topic to collect and study the individual responses.
Limitation of the Study:
The researcher chooses students from the East in Saudi Arabia. They are from the University of Dammam, especially those whose major is English. The timing of the study coincides with the midterm exams, and this research paper is the first experience of the researcher.
Chapter two
Literature Review:
Keywords: language process, language skills, communication, educational application and social media.
The Definition of Mobile Learning:
Although The Scientists don't find the suitable definition of mobile learning, they agreed on the concept that mobile learning is " learning flexibility and educational applications of mobile technology". (Rui-Ting et al. 142)
"There is no agreed definition of ''mobile learning'', partly because the field is experiencing rapid evolution, and partly because of the ambiguity of ''mobile'' ' does it relate to mobile technologies, or the more general notion of learner mobility?" (Kukulska-Hulme 158)
Wang et al. (2009) state that 'M-learning refers to the delivery of learning to students anytime and anywhere through the use of wireless Internet and mobile devices, including mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones and digital audio players'. ( qtd. In Rui-Ting et al. 142). Park also (2011) declares that "'mobile learning refers to the use of mobile or wireless devices for the purpose of learning while on the move'. ( qtd. In Rui-Ting et al. 142).
Examples mobile devices:
"Cellular phones, smartphones, mp3 and mp4 players, iPods, digital cameras, data-travelers, personal digital assistance devices (PDAs), netbooks, laptops, tablets, iPads, e-readers such as the Kindle, Nook, etc."( ''ad and G''kta'' 606)
The definition of application:
"Mobile applications are software applications that run on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablet computers."( Ling, Harnish, and Shehab 532).They are "a recent form of technology-assisted learning that is becoming more popular teaching tools." ( Ling, Harnish, and Shehab 532)
Definition of social media:
The concept of social media is defined by Boyd and Ellison (2008) as 'web-based services that allow users to build a public or semi-public profile within a system; articulate a user list with shared relationships; and view the list of relationships of those persons with other people within the system'. (qtd. in Friedrichsen and Mu''hl-Benninghaus 321).
How do the qualities of technology support language learning: Nicholas Negroponte explicates the significant merits of digitalization. He writes about the advantages of presenting the information in the form of digits. First, the ease of modification. The content can be changed, replaced, combined and deleted. (Young 448) Second, Negroponte, 1995 states that " a new kind of bit is born 'a bit that tells you about the other bits "(qtd. In Yong448)."These two phenomena of digitized information enable flexible manipulation of content and multimedia communication " (Yong 448)
Speech synthesis or text to speech (TTS) technologies: We can define speech synthesis as "the process of generating spoken language by machine on the basis of written input." (Oxford dictionaries). Learners can benefit from it, especially if they face some difficulty in finding native speakers. They can control the speed of speech and choose their favorite voice and dialect. English learners can use (TTS) to support their language process. First, they can use it to listen to the spoken target language, second, (TTS) can be utilized to create an educational program that can be published. (Yong 448)
Automatic speech recognition (ASR):
(ASR)" is the automatic conversion of human speech to a sequence of words." (Stephanidis 93)
The aim of ASR is to recognize automatically what has been said." (Stephanidis 93).
(ASR) is available for use in many programs. It enables language users to develop their pronunciation skills. Sometimes, automatic recognition and speech synthesis are used together to develop conversation skills. (TTS) provide sound and (ASR) comprehend the language speaking. (Yong 449)
Computer- mediated communication technology: (CMC) facilitates communication between the users. They can communicate with each other in many different ways. They can choose whether to use sound, images and video to communicate with each other. (Yong 449)
Web technology:
Today, the web has become a platform for the deployment of video, audio, graphics, and text. The web is also a programming environment and can easily be connected to databases. Thus the web can deliver traditional CAL-Type tutoring programs as well as multimedia communication and curricular resources, and serve as management and feedback tool for language learners. (Yong 450)
Video and audio technology
With digital video and audio, language learners can role-play one character in the video, choose to access one type of caption in a desired language (e.g., Reading the caption in one language while having the video playing in another), control the speed of the speech, add comments to the video, read background materials about a specific part of the video. (Yong 450)
Chapter three: data analysis
The researcher made a survey of the UOD students. The result of this study shows most of the students use educational application and social media in their English language process
Developing language skills
98% of students declare that educational application and social media to improve their language skills. They are many programs designed for achieving this purpose. They admit that educational application and social media help them to develop their speaking and listening skill, writing skill and reading skills.
Listening and speaking skills:
There are many programs that students can benefit from them to cultivate their speaking and listening skills. 78% of students acknowledge that educational application and social media and social media have a crucial role to understand and speak English fluently. Some of these programs that are used to advance their conversational skills, have some features, for example, they provide students with audios and videos to listen to a conversation on a specific topic that students have also a choice to read the conversation. Students also can repeat the audio again and again. They have other features such as providing the video that the participants in the video pretend the daily life conversation and after that they clarify the most difficult English vocabulary and give grammar lessons. The third features of these programs is that English students can select the most well formed sentences to put it in the section of preference. Such of these programs are learning English conversation channel on You top, English conversation by Nhatvm Education in Android apps and learn English &speak English by speakingpal in iOS apps, and some accounts in the tweeter like @abuomartube.
Reading skills:
82% of students state that educational application and social media better their reading skill. They have some features for promoting reading skill. First, they provide students with full English text and then they ask English students some question testing their understanding of the text. Second, some of these programs have a translator that gives them the meaning of the difficult words. Third, some programs attach audio with the text, so students can listen first to the audio and then read the text. This method will promote their understanding of the text. Some of these programs are MELS reading and comprehension skills by E-learn on ISO apps, English reading test by quiz world on android apps, and reading messages on twitter posed by special accounts and then they are asked some question.
Writing skills:
85%of students agree that educational application and social media ameliorate their writing skill. These programs have some advantages for developing English writing. One of these features is that providing students with a well formed paragraphs and essays that students can imitate them. The second feature is that teaching students the rules of English writing. The third feature is that students can write about any topic and send it to the native speakers, so or the similar to the native speakers, so they can correct their writing and send it back. The fourth feature is that students can do an exercise to write the correct spelling of English vocabulary and the program will provide their score.
Examples of such these programs are English writing skill &rules by Top of learning in Android apps, Bussu by Busuu limited in ISO apps and some channel in YouTube that give some lessons about writing skills.
Communication
98% of the students use Educational application and social media to connect with each other and with their instructors. Students usually use Educational application and social media to discuss with each other the information about their subjects. For example, they usually help each other with the most difficult matter about their subjects, and they also can inquire about the missing lectures.
As for the communication with their instructor, They can discuss with their instructor any difficulty they face in their subjects or to suggest anything relate to the lectures.
80% of students also proclaim that the Educational application and social media enable them to communicate with native speakers. They are able to acquire words, phrase, idioms and expression simply. 80% of them also declare that they can increase their knowledge about the other's culture and lifestyle. The communication with the native speakers also helps them to improve their speaking skill, and widen their linguistics' repertoire.
They can use whatsapp, kick, Paltalk, instagram, tweeter, Skype, email' act. Most of these programs available in every new communication device.
Saving time and effort:
Most of the students' comments regarding to the advantage of saving time and effort, some of these comments are:
Thus, 98%of the students confirm that Educational application and social media save their time and effort. They help them to facilitate their educational subjects and make language learning enjoyable. They can use these programs to understand their educational subjects through providing videos, summaries and explanation of the difficult lessons. Nowadays students can do their research paper easily because of the availability of the means of communication, helping them especially in making surveys.
Second, making learning language enjoyable through giving visual aids such as audios, videos and pictures, providing exercise and test to entrench English vocabulary and information in their mind, and spending little time while learning. The examples of such programs are some dictionaries, YouTube, tweeter.
Some of students 'Comments
' " It is so important because they make everything easier and take a little time."
' " It is important for saving time and giving us different opinions and information".
' " Learning language become easy and enjoyable "
' "I think it improves our language, especially if we are studying English and to understand some subject"
' "They are Very important and useful. They facilitated us the trouble of searching and they save a lot of time, especially during exam period "
' " Have a significant role in helping the students to continue their education"
' " I think it is a must nowadays cause people are looking for faster solutions and not willing to spend too much time and effort on a dictionary "
' " They are very helpful, especially sites that help to understand the meaning of idioms that are used in special context "
' " I think they are important to help entrench vocabulary in mind for a long time through practice and translation"
' " They are the main tool to learn, translate and know the correct grammar for some confusing sentences "
' " They can change the way of your thinking even when you don't look for a change".
Findings:
In the first Question most of the students choose that they use educational application and social media in their education, and most of them agree that using educational application and social media to improve their language skills as they stated in the second question, third question and forth the question. In the fifth, sixth and seventh question, the majority of students think that educational application and social media make it easy to connect with people (to communicate with native speakers, with their colleagues and their instructors, and to exchange culture and information about their subject). In the eighth and ninth question, most of responses declare that educational application and social media save their time and effort, retrieve and save the information and help them to understand their subject. On the tenth question, the majority of them comment about the significant role of the educational application and social media in their English learning.
Recommendation:
English learners should be aware of the advantages of these programs and use them in the right way to benefit from them in their education.
Chapter four:
Conclusion
Should students use Educational application and social media in their education? Educational application and social media are very advantageous in students' educational life. Students need to use them to facilitate their learning process. They benefit from them in developing their language skill, connecting with other people and not spending too much time and effort in their study. Therefore, this contributes in increasing the users of social media and educational application and encouraging the programmers to develop their programs.
Bibliography
Friedrichsen, Mike, and Wolfgang Muhl-Benninghaus. Handbook of Social Media Management: Value Chain and Business Models in Changing Media Markets. New York: Springer, 2013. Print.
Zhao, Yong. Research in Technology and Second Language Education Developments and Directions. Greenwich, CT: IAP-Information Age Pub., 2005. Print.
Rui-Ting, Huang, et al. "Exploring the Moderating Role of Perceived Flexibility Advantages in Mobile Learning Continuance Intention (MLCI)." International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning 15.3 (2014)ProQuest. Web. 28 Nov. 2015
Ling, Chen, Drew Harnish, and Randa Shehab. "Educational Apps: Using Mobile Applications to Enhance Student Learning of Statistical Concepts." Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries Hum. Factors Man. 24.5 (2014): 532-43. Web.
''ad, S''leyman Nihat, and ''zlem G''kta''. "Preservice Teachers' Perceptions about Using Mobile Phones and Laptops in Education as Mobile Learning Tools." Br J Educ Technol British Journal of Educational Technology 45.4 (2013): 606-18. Web
"Oxford Dictionaries – Dictionary, Thesaurus, & Grammar." Oxford Dictionaries – Dictionary, Thesaurus, & Grammar. N.p., N.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.
Stephanidis, Constantine. Universal Access in Human-computer Interaction: 4th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, UAHCI 2007, Held as Part of HCI International 2007, Beijing, China, July 22-27, 2007: Proceedings. Berlin: Springer, 2007. Print.
Appendix:
Q1: 1-Do you use educational applications and social media for learning English?
' Yes
' No
Q2: how often do you use educational applications and social media in your learning process?
' Always
' sometime
' Never
Q3: do educational applications and social media help you to improve your language skills?
' Yes
' No
Q4: do educational applications and social media help you to understand your subjects?
' Yes
' No
Q5: do you use them to exchange the information about your subjects and culture?
' Yes
' No
Q6: do educational applications and social media help you to communicate with native speakers?
' Yes
' No
Q7: do educational applications and social media help you to communicate with your instructors and colleagues?
' Yes
' No
Q8: do educational applications and social media help you to save your time and effort?
' Yes
' No
Q9: do educational applications and social media help you to save and retrieve the information?
' Yes
' No
Q10: what is your opinion bout the importance of the educational application and social media in your education? ''
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Q11: do educational applications and social media improve your speaking skills?
Yes
' No
Q12: do you learn from educational application and social media the correct spelling of the words?
' Yes
' No
Q13: do educational applications and social media help you to improve your reading skills?
' Yes
' No