VokSi – App-based Vocabulary Learning

Project Description

In vocabulary learning, there is a significant learning benefit if the students themselves become active. This could be by generating a prediction about the possible translation of the foreign language term or by executing or observing suitable gestures that illustrate the concept of the term while learning it. The objective of this project was to examine the aforementioned learning activities in detail and to take a closer look at the effects of their interaction. In particular we wanted to investigate the practicability and the benefit of both strategies within a digital learning context, more specifically: while using a learning app. The participants were third to fifth graders, who were in the initial phase of their experiences with vocabulary learning.

Project Objectives

1. Do the already stated positive effects of the mentioned learning activities, i.e. the generation of a prediction and the execution of gestures, take effect in the same way when learning with interactive media?
2. Does the combination of both strategies result in additive effects? The latter question was particularly interesting as the generation of predictions on the one hand and the execution of gestures on the other hand have different presumed mechanisms underlying their effectiveness. The advantage of generating a prediction is associated with the retrieval of and the link with prior knowledge, while the positive effect for the use of gestures is primarily explained by the benefit of multi-sensory learning.

Funding

IDeA Center

Cooperations

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Ebert, Goethe University of Frankfurt

Publications

Brod, G., Hasselhorn, M., & Bunge, S. A. (2018). When generating a prediction boosts learning: The element of surprise. Learning and Instruction, 55, 22–31. doi:10.1016/j.learninstruc.2018.01.013

Ebert, C., Ebert, Ch., & Hörnig, R. (2018). Vocabulary learning improves with interactive finger gestures. In: Rothkopf, C., Balfanz, D., Galuske, R., Jäkel, F., Kersting, K., Macke, J., & Mohler, B. (eds.), 14th Biannual Conference of the German Society for Cognitive Science, 11.

Project Management

Project Details