Appropriate feedback to assist and enhance learning

Background: Problems with CALL discussed in the pre-Windows era principally were: availability of software, lack of hypermedia technology (this worked as an obstacle for the design of motivated, helpful, elaborated feedback), lack of multimedia technology, level of computer expertise required to communicate with computers (lack of Graphic User Interface), cost of technology.

Also/Mainly due to poor pedagogical design/structure of CALL software (either caused by 1. inability of hardware and software of the time, or 2. lack/non-use of language learning methodology background from the software creators, - many had a mathematical/computer background-, fear of technology by language teachers, lack of CALL teacher training.

Research question: Despite that:
Hardware and software development provided solutions for most of the problems identified in the past,
CALL software pedagogical design has been improved,
Teachers are not afraid of the user-friendlier machines,
Still, CALL software does not follow findings from the language learning/teaching methodology end and it has not become property for the majority of language teachers and learners (why?). One of the questions that would need to be researched in this direction is “what is the appropriate feedback in CALL so as to assist and enhance language learning (in relation to the learning strategies employed by language learners), and how can it be designed by current computer technology?” In addition, “what are the appropriate memory techniques that would need to be employed in CALL software design so as to facilitate long rather than short memory?”

Suggested methodology/comments: 

Contact: Dr George Ypsilandis    ypsi@uom.gr

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