Conversational ESL EFL Mobile App Learning Simulations
"All my students liked it, especially the dialogue in the pizzeria...
I was able to follow their conversations and saw their problems "
University ESL Professor, Ukraine
and App Text ConversationsShort, mobile text conversations are the #1 form of written language in the World. It's how we communicate. Now, it's how we learn.
and App engine has new lookIn January 2012, eslAI.com will port it's ESL simulations to the new Ver. 1.0 platform. Want a preview?
Mobile URL: http://m.MySantaTalk.com
We aren’t big fans of infographics, but this one was notable:
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/infographic-sms-messaging-changing-world/
If you also include mobile web chat, instant messaging and in-app chat, those expand this engagement format even further.
OK, that’s a quick update. . .new conversational simulations are in production now; for release in December 2011.
And, a whole new User Interface will be featured.
Stay tuned. . .
We’re in the midst of a significant user experience (UX) upgrade to our platform.
One of the key areas we’re focused on is the ability to deliver more graphics in addition to the conversational text engagement.
Why?
The proverbial “a picture’s worth a thousand words” is only half the story – the other half is that a picture needs no translation. The seamless deliver and “shared intelligence” between the graphics and the text is designed to create a more memorable and intuitive UX.
We’ll be rolling out the enhanced platform with new apps during September/October. Another key focus is on responsive mobile web design so that tablets and netbooks also experience the optimized experiences, in addition to phone/mobile devices; we’ve recently added MEEGO to our OS delivery mix, watch for updates on more soon.
“Precision oftentimes kills the ability of the learner to discover multiple real-life applications.”
There have been a couple of follow up blog posts to the WIRED article entitled: IN PRAISE OF VAGUENESS.
One notable blog post is here: VAGUE STORIES HELP LEARNERS DISCOVER.
This is very consistent with the responses we’re receiving from ESL teachers that note how our ESL conversational simulations allow vague and varied responses — they don’t encourage precision and fixed responses — they encourage conversational exploration. We allow the vague.
The articles are worth reading, here’s another quote. . .
“Sometimes, precision is dangerous, a closed door keeping us from imagining new possibilities. Vagueness is that door flung wide open, a reminder that we don’t yet know the answer, that we might still get better, that we have yet to fail.”
We share information and our platform enhancements between our mobile learning unit (here, ESLai) and the commercial/advertising unit: http://contentAI.com
Over from the commercial advertising side, they were looking at a recent Trident campaign that simulates an augmented reality experience by using a QR code and video.
The ability to incorporate this kind of feature in our ESLai.com apps to demonstrate pronunciation immediately sprang to mind.
Plus, it’s fun.
The original post was from @RickMathieson over at:
Here’s the Youtube link directly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X62xhsDqdBQ&feature=player_embedded
We’ll see about adding these kind of features into the series of childhood learning ESL apps that are currently being built. A user’s response/input would trigger different video files being delivered so that user’s would be encouraged to explore their response options to acquire new experiences.
In looking at the China ESL market this past week the one big take-away was that despite being a $3-billion dollar/annual industry, people’s conversational skills are not being effectively addressed:
“At all levels very little class time is spent on everyday applications of English and conversation practice is rare. The result is students with a deep knowledge of grammatical rules who struggle to communicate…”
http://www.ef.com/epi/country-profiles/china/
So, with over 100,000 teachers and an abundance of online learning tools and mobile tools (and a lot of money) – “Conversation” remains the leading problem.
This reminded us of one of comments from an ESL university professor who’s been testing our apps with her students:
That’s why we do what what do.
We’re now creating the next series of conversational simulations and look forward to releasing them in the Fall.
Stay tuned. . .
UPDATE: For statistics on China and mobile, this was released this week: http://gigaom.com/broadband/china-mobile-phone-subscriptions/
Sometimes the obvious alludes us. After about a year of developing our ESL simulation engine and discussing applications; testing, etc., today someone inquired about developing simulations for Call Centers. Not just for the ESL component but for general training of those who already have strong English skills.
Immediately, we saw that there were two ways to approach this — the standard route — A simulation where the virtual character is the customer calling in; but, we also saw the value in creating the opposite – Role reversal:
Allow the Call Center trainee to take on the role of the caller.
This is a fascinating application for our platform as it fits perfectly with the interactive narrative-engine’s features, including the ability to go “way off topic” and explore other User input.
Where I think it will shine is with the “emotion detection” capabilities that we can build into a simulation.
After all, addressing the Caller’s emotional state seems like half the challenge in creating a successful Call Center experience.
We’re really fascinated by Google+
It looks like an exceptional framework for personal social networks to evolve. It is likely that it will also gain a lot of use in academia, where classes can become CIRCLES. This is what Buzz and WAVE had hoped to achieve, now it’s exceptionally user friendly.
One of our first thoughts was: Can our virtual characters and conversational simulations flow through Google+? Could a User add a virtual character to a CIRCLE?
What we’ll need to do is add Links to Picasa images and YouTube videos, which “should” open directly in Google+ without leaving the page.
This is a terrific channel with a lot of cross-over potential between “live/human” interaction and virtual characters and simulations.
Stay tuned…
We’ve been pleased to work through the INTEL AppUP platform to port our apps to Windows – and, today — MEEGO — netbooks, tablets and laptops.
Netbooks are what?
Tablets with keyboards?
They are becoming more powerful, faster and interesting. This pending ASUS Netbook running MEEGO for $199 looks extremely interesting:
http://www.reghardware.com/2011/06/27/asus_eee_pc_x101/
That’s $199 at launch/retail. So, conceivably, could even be lower? For mLearning, it’s a fascinating device to consider.
We like physical keyboards. For our conversational applications, a keyboard is a wonderful thing. Being able to place the device on your lap and adjust the screen is a wonderful thing. So, we’re pleased to have our apps available directly to these devices. Of course, you can still access them via Browser too. . .but, the convenience of apps is a real plus. We’ll add some native-app functionality in our next iterations.
Stay tuned.
The “personal” relationship between a person and their mobile device that’s highlighted in discussion re: “mobile marketing” has implications for mLearning.
This post highlights the personal relationship that exists between a User and their mobile device:
http://www.gomonews.com/your-mobile-device-phone-web-browser%E2%80%A6-secret-lover
We see this being applicable to mLearning and conversational simulations. Other than human::human contact, what’s the most personal form of engagement on mobile? One-to-one conversational simulations is our response.
This line was insightful and applicable:
“Now, it’s nothing like the connection you have with an actual person. You can never feel as close to your phone as you can to a real person. But those feelings are there, even if they’re only faded reflections of the real thing.”
A consistent theme we’ve been hearing from ESL Teachers is how they feel that our conversational simulations offer a very strong value to their students who need to overcome their initial hesitation and fear of conversing in another language.
It’s difficult to put a value on this feature. It’s not easily quantifiable (i.e. “we can increase a student’s confidence by over 50%! This just can’t be measured.) – Therefore, it’s more of an impression that is being conveyed to us — indicating that our platform provides a solution to a rarely addressed problem other curriculum materials don’t tackle.
It’s the essence of why “simulations” are exceptionally valuable — even if we can’t pinpoint the precise value-add they offer. We’ll never know what percentage of “conversational confidence” an application may result in….but, we do know that our conversational ESL simulations make a difference, both for teachers and learners.
