Virtual Worlds meet m-Learning

Augmented Reality Language Learning

Some Initial Thoughts

Teaching Methods for ARLL (Augmented Reality Language Learning)

• Dogme

• Task-Based Learning

Google Android Phone as Example for ARLL

Focus on 2 Tools • Wikitude

– Geo-tagged Wikipedia

• Google Lattitude / BrightKite– Location-based social networking and

microblogging

What is Augmented Reality?

AR = real-world + computer-generated data

Result is that computer generated objects

are blended into real time projection of real

life activities.

Wikitude – An Immersive Wikipedia

• Wikitude is a program • It provides information from Wikipedia on

a smartphone • Information displayed as markers on the

camera screen

* Smartphone = cell phone with camera, internet, GPS etc

Wikitude – An Immersive Wikipedia

Wikitude – An Immersive Wikipedia

• If you move the phone, the markers stay with the building or physical place

• Click on the markers or summaries to go to the Wikipedia page

* Google Android phone has 3G internet access

Latitude – Location-Based Social Networks

• Friends see each other’s location • Locations shown on map (on phone)• Profile / photos included for each friend

* depends on each user’s privacy settings

BrightKite – Geo-tagged Twitter

• BrightKite is like twitter but with geo-tagging

• Users microblog from mobile device (eg phones)

• User’s location also given with microblog post (tweet)

• Users can find each other via ‘twittering’• Microblogging becomes location-specific

* depends on each user’s privacy settings

Augmented Reality in Mobile Assisted Language Learning

• ARLL focuses on contextual (immersive) learning

• Learners can move beyond physical classroom into street / field

• Contexts have opportunity to be relevant and to engage learners

Language Learning with Augmented Reality / Virtual Worlds

• Is learning languages with virtual worlds and with augmented reality the same?

• Consider 4 experiences that are possible with virtual worlds…

1. Immersive

2. Social

3. Creative

4. Gaming

Immersive Experiences in AR

• Very immersive (it’s real life!)• Limited flexibility – difficult to travel to

distant places• Limited opportunity to change

surroundings (compared to a virtual world)

• Rich in information (with Wikitude)

Social Experiences in AR

• Extremely real – lots of real people in real life!

• How easy is it to talk with other people (compared to a virtual world)?

• Is microblogging (eg Twitter) with BrightKite more social?

• New ways of communication = new activities for language lessons

Creative Experiences in AR

• AR does not yet create opportunities to build in the location

• But can share experiences via internet (3G) internet

– Microblogging– Blogging– Instant messaging– Photo-sharing– Podcasting/vodcasting– Wiki participation

Gaming Experiences in AR

• Gaming is possible with AR– Lingualgamers.com– Local Games Lab– Holden and Sykes

Methods for Augmented Reality Language Learning

Can we use same methods as with virtual worlds?

• Task-based Learning– Activities using 24/7 access to location-specific

information– Activities using social networking

• Collaborative tasks• Information gap activities

• Dogme– Microblogging as conversation

Activities for Augmented Reality Language Learning

• Role plays as tour guides (learners access Wikitude for information)

• Quests on location (students search for ‘treasure’)• AR Geocaching (hidden containers are virtual

/augmented reality). • Projects and fieldtrips (students explore and

collect data (text/videos/audios/images))• Blogging, Microblogging and Wikis (share ideas

and content online)• Noticing and mobile diaries (students reflect on

experiences)

Future of Augmented Reality Language Learning

• ARLL is mainly geo-tagging now – will it be different in future?

• AR will involve objects (not just information) in future

• Future may offer more creative learning opportunities

Augmented Reality in Real Life

• How will AR be used in real life?

• Technologies often change communication patterns

– Will AR also change how we communicate?

• AR may offer new opportunities for language education

Learn more…

Further information on our blog…

www.avatarlanguages.com/blog/arll

Online Language School

• One-to-one language classes – Spanish– English– Other languages

www.avatarlanguages.com