NOTE TO USERS This reproduction is the best copy available. EFL STLTDENTS GO MOOING. A CASE STUDY OF PROJECT-BASED TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED LANGUAGE LEARNING Jen-Yi Wu A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Art Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1*1 ofCamda du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliogiaphiques 395 Weüington Street 395, r~18Wellington OttawaON KIAOW OttawaON K1AW Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Licence non exclusive licence aIlowing the exclusive pexmettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distniute or sel reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. EFL STUDENTS GO MOOtNG: A CASE STCTDY OF PROJECT-BASED TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED LANGUAGE LEARNING Master of Art, 2 001 Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Ontario lnstitute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto Abstract This thesis is aimed at explonng the use of MO0 (Multi-user domain, Object Oriented), a network-based virtuai environment, in supporting Ianguage leaming through a collaborative project which involved six college students fiom Taiwan. To examine the process and outcomes of leamer interactions and productions, this research adopted a qualitative. field-based case study methodology which offers a detailed description of the project members' expenence and language use prornoted by this MOO-based collaborative project. The outcomes of the study reflect the mediation role of online tools and written language for Iearners' construction of virtual spaces and their communication with others. Within the context of technology-supported language leaming, it was possible to describe the varied language leaniing activities in the MO0 environment using Cummins' anaiytical framework in turn focusing on language. meaning and use. Four of the six participants' viewpoints toward MOOing and language Iearning, technical issues and their project work were investigated. Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ........................................................................... ix Chapter 1.Introductioa ....................................................................... 1 Statement of Problem and Goal ........................................................1 Language Leaming, Cornputer. and Networking Technologies ...................3 .2.1 Learning Engiish as a Foreign Language ........................................ 3 L .2.2 Network technologies and Foreign Language Leaming .....................-4 1.2.2.1CALL ...........................................................................4 1.2.2.2CMC .............................................................................5 1.2.2.3 Hypertext and Hypermedia ...................................................6 1.3 MOOving Ahead ........................................................................ 7 1.3.1 The History ........................................................................... 7 1.3.2 The Structure ......................................................................... 8 1 .3.2.1Text-Based Interface ...........................................................9 1 -3.2.2 Graphic User hterface (GU) ................................................10 Chapter 2. Literature Review ............................................................... 14 2.1 Research on Network-Based Language Teaching ................................. -14 2.1.1 Asyuchronous CMC and Foreign Language Education -The Use ofE-Mail ............................................................................................... 15 2.1.2 Synchronous CMC and Foreign Language Education - The Use of Interchange ................................................................................ 15 2.1.3 Research ou Integrated Network Envimnment and Foreign Language Education ................................................................................. -17 2 .L -4 Research on MO0 and Foreign Language Education .......................-18 2.2 Theoretical Orientation ................................................................ 22 2.2.1 Sociocultural Theory .............................................................. 23 2.2.2 Transfonnative Pedagogy ........................................................25 2.2.3 A Framework for Technology-Supported Language Leaming ..............26 2.2.4 Electronic Litemcy ................................................................28 Chapter 3. Research Method ............................................................... 31 3.1 The Pilot Study ..........................................................................31 3.2 Research Questions ..................................................................... 33 3.3 Research Design .......................................................................-34 3.3.1 Provisions of Trustworthiness ...................................................... 35 3 -4 Methodology ............................................................................ 36 3 .4.1 Sampling Smtegy ................................................................. 36 5.2.3. 2 Construction ..................................................................85 5 .2.3-3 Research ....................................................................... 86 5 -3 Participants' Viewpoints ................................................................. -90 5.3.1 the MO0 and English Learninflsing ......................................... 90 Technical Issues ................................................................... 93 Project Work ....................................................................... 94 Chapter 6. Discussion ........................................................................ 97 6.1 The MOOseum Project ................................................................97 6.1.1 The Analysis .......................................................................98 6.1.2 Participants Voices ................................................................99 6.2 Discussion .............................................................................. 101 6.3 Jmplications ...........................................................................-104 Reference....................................................................................... 107 Appendix ......................................................................................118 Appendix A Some MO0 Clients .......................................................118 Appendix B . Letten of Consent .......................................................119 Appendix C . The Pre-Project Questionnaire ........................................... -125 Appendix D . A Sample ofthe MOOlog ............................................... -126 Appendix E. A Sarnple of Participants' Room Descriptions ........................ 127 Appendix F. Guiding Questions for the Discussion Session ....................... -128 Appendix G. Samples of Scavenger Hunts ............................................. 129 Appendix H. Sample Self-Descriptions of Project Mernbers ........................ 131 Appendix I. Sampie Answers to Weekly Hunts hmthe Participants .............133 Appendix .J . Samples ofProject Membea' Productions .............................. 136 vii List of Figures Figure 1-1 A MO0 Room in Text-Based Intetface ....................................... -9 Fiyre 1-2 GUI-Enhanced MO0 .An htegrated Networking Environment ........ -11 Figure 2-1 A Framework For Academic Language Leaming ...........................27 Figure 4-1 The Map of Achieve ............................................................ 44 Figure 4-2 A Discussion Board Made from Genenc Note Board ......................50 Figure 4-3 A Guest Book Made from Public Wntable Note ............................ 51 Figure 4-4 The MO0 Mail System and Mooseum Mail List ...........................52 Figure 4-5 The Chinese Bookshelf ......................................................... 53 Figure. 4-6a The Video Tape ............................................................... -54 Figure. 4-6b An hported Web Page .......................................................54 Figure 5-la Tsai's Self-Description .........................................................67 Figure 5-lb Yeh's Self-Description .........................................................67 Figure 5-2a .Yu's Cabin .....................................................................-71 Figure 5-2b Chen's Nest .....................................................................71 Figure 5-3 A Bilingual Menu Prepared by Chen .........................................80 Figure 5-4 The Theme Room Created by Yu in MOOseum ..........................