Abstract:
COVID-19 has significantly impacted education in recent years, serving as a real test of creativity and adaptability in language education. This project highlights the importance of developing language teachers’ Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and enhancing students’ language learning in Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). The project aims to establish a Professional Learning Community (PLC) on technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) in VLEs, engaging researchers worldwide alongside in-service and pre-service language teachers in Hong Kong. This collaborative initiative is supported by Lingnan University, The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The PLC adopts a learning-by-doing approach, enabling language teachers to develop their TPACK effectively. This empowers teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms, meeting real-time curricular demands and addressing individual students’ needs. Through TPACK development, teachers are equipped to create diverse VLEs using technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and digital games, ultimately enhancing students’ language learning. The project also evaluates the impact of these virtual learning activities on students’ language performance, motivation, engagement, and technology acceptance through assessments and surveys. Student feedback is continuously collected to refine TELL strategies in VLEs. Additionally, the PLC disseminates project findings through seminars, workshops, international conferences, and journal publications, promoting TELL implementation and innovation in VLEs globally.
Code:
T5004
Principal Project Supervisors:
Start Date:
01 Oct 2022
End Date:
31 Dec 2024
Status:
Completed
Result:
During the project period, we implemented 11 e-learning packages, benefiting over 750 undergraduate and postgraduate students across at least five disciplines. Of these, 175 students completed online surveys, and 25 students were interviewed, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the SVVR and Metaverse packages and the use of role-playing games for learning English vocabulary. Students appreciated the variety of teaching and learning activities in VLEs. With the establishment of the Professional Learning Community (PLC), 18 sharing sessions and 2 workshops were conducted. Participants provided feedback via an online evaluation form, which was overwhelmingly positive. Nine teacher interviewees valued the sharing sessions for the opportunity to learn from peers and stay informed about digital advancements. The International Conference on Technology-Enhanced Language Learning and Teaching (TeLLT) was held on 3–5 July 2024, attracting 160 presenters, including six keynote speakers, and around 200 local and international participants. The conference was highly successful, with participants praising the quality of the academic program and engaging discussions on various TeLLT topics. Finally, a knowledge transfer website (http://iica.eduhk.hk/) was created to promote TELL in VLEs. The website features resources, activities, and effective pedagogies for quality language education. It includes sections on the project’s introduction, team information, objectives, events, the international TeLLT conference, and contact details.
Impact:
This project establishes a Professional Learning Community (PLC) on Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) in Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), engaging researchers and in-service and pre-service language teachers in Hong Kong. The initiative helps teachers develop Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) through hands-on, learning-by-doing activities. It equips teachers to integrate technology into classrooms, addressing curricular needs while supporting the development of AR-, VR-, digital game-, and VLE-enhanced language learning activities, enriching students’ experiences. Theoretically, the findings will contribute to designing a new model for language teachers’ TPACK development. In terms of Technological Language Knowledge, the project will help teachers understand the affordances and added value of VLEs for language learning. Regarding Technological Pedagogical Knowledge, the findings will demonstrate how VLEs support specific teaching strategies (e.g., using VR for inquiry-based learning). For Technological Pedagogical Language Knowledge, the findings will suggest practical tools and strategies for teaching diverse language topics through VLE-enhanced activities, contributing to the refinement of the TPACK framework. From a Knowledge Transfer (KT) perspective, the project created a KT website to promote TELL in VLEs, showcasing resources and effective pedagogies. The team organized an international conference, shared findings at other global conferences, and published peer-reviewed journal articles and an edited book, benefiting educators and researchers in TELL, VLEs, teacher training, and educational technology, advancing research and practice in these fields.
Deliverables:
Books/ Book Chapters/ Journal Articles/ Conference Papers
Su, F., Zou, D., & Wang, L. (2023). Learning-by-doing in a professional learning community: technological pedagogical and content knowledge development of Hong Kong university teaching staff. Asia Pacific Education Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-023-09918-1
Wang, L., & Ren, B. (2024). Enhancing academic writing in a linguistics course with generative AI: An empirical study in a higher education institution in Hong Kong. Education Sciences, 14(12), 1329. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14121329
Wang, L., Ma, Q., & Zou, D. (2025). Technology-enhanced and corpus-based language learning and teaching: Innovations and insights. Cambridge Scholars Publishing (forthcoming publication)
Seminars/ Presentations/ Sharing Sessions
Conference presentations:
Wang, L. (2024, 22 June). Using Generative AI tools to assist digital academic writing in a linguistics course [Conference presentation]. 8th Foreign Language Learning and Teaching 2024 Conference, Phuket, Thailand.
Academic conference:
International Conference on Technology-Enhanced Language Learning and Teaching & Corpus-based Language Learning and Teaching, Education University of Hong Kong. (2024, 3–5 July).
Seminars and workshops:
Korte, S. (2023, 17 January). Psychosocial well-being of young people in Northern Finland – experiences of remote learning and Strategies for success [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Chai, C. (2023, 6 March). Two pilot studies on AI supported language learning based on TPACK [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Wong, W., & Liu, B. (2023, 21 March). Metaverse for digital humanities: A hands-on workshop [Workshop presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong. (Number of participants: 24)
Stockwell, G. (2023, 27 March). ChatGPT in language education: Exploring the possibilities and challenges [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Forrester, A., & Hunter, R. (2023, 4 April). GPT and AI: Empowering students and faculty in language learning and teaching [Hybrid seminar presentation]. Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Wong, W., & Liu, B. (2023, 26 April). CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) for digital humanities: A hands-on workshop [Workshop presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong. (Number of participants: 19)
Chang, M. (2023, 10 May). Building and talking to chatbot for language learning [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Yu, G. (2023, 18 May). Multimodality in communication: Implication for designing multimodal integrated language assessment tasks [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Colpaert, J. (2023, 20 June). How to determine the added value of emerging technologies for language learning, teaching and testing? [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Chan, K. Y., & Ye, X. (2023, 8 September). AI for formative assessment: Providing feedback through ASR on WhatsApp [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Song, Y. (2023, 20 October). Pedagogical design and practices for immersive and collaborative learning in the metaverse platform – Learningverse [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Lai, C.-L. (2023, 26, October). Application of technology-enhanced self-regulated learning in language education [Online seminar presentation]. Lingnan University.
Hafner, C. A. (2023, 8 November). Developing digital literacies through digital multimodal composing: Teacher perspectives [Hybrid seminar presentation]. University of Hong Kong.
Zou, D. (2024, 20 February). Assessing ChatGPT’s impact on English as a foreign language writing: Integration strategies and feedback effectiveness [Online seminar presentation]. Lingnan University.
Hwang, G.-J. (2024, 7 March). Applications and research designs of artificial intelligence in language learning [Online seminar presentation]. Lingnan University.
Wang, L. (2024, 7 March). English-Chinese parallel corpus for language studies [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Zou, D. (2024, 7 March). The role of generative AI in machine translation for language teaching and learning [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Chen, H. C. R., Wang, M. S. (2024, 15 March). Integrating corpus and AI technology for English speaking training [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Jia, J. (2024, 15 March). The past, present and future of an AI system CSIEC in English language education [Online seminar presentation]. University of Hong Kong.
Li, R. (2024, 28 October). ChatGPT for L2 learning: Current status and implications [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Lai, C.-L. (2024, 29 November). Digital tools in the classroom [Online seminar presentation]. Education University of Hong Kong.
Teaching and Learning Resources/ Materials (including online resources)
A project website with records of sharing sessions (http://iica.eduhk.hk/index.php)
The Everyday English in Hong Kong app (https://www.lib.eduhk.hk/blue/resources/36)
A 3D virtual reality (VR) game on communication in animals (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tJiXfOrDcq5H9lbASBob6Y2Hlbk2tzrp/view)
An Edpuzzle video lecture on the nature of language (https://edpuzzle.com/media/612c8a3f15aa49416aaf8b03)
A metaverse environment for learning English vocabulary (http://iica.eduhk.hk/index.php/augmented-reality-ar-example/)
A VR environment for exploring 1881 Heritage, the Star Ferry, and Tai Kwun (http://iica.eduhk.hk/index.php/virtual-reality-vr-example/)
A virtual tour of the Central Market (https://travr.viewin360.co/share/collection/7qpdn?logo=bWVkaWEvNTA2NzQvNjIwYi02ZmZiLTNjODQtZTE1OS5wbmc=&info=0&logosize=200&fs=1&vr=1&zoom=1&sd=1&thumbs=1&inst=0)
A Chinese History VR package (reported in https://www.eduhk.hk/fhm/newsletter/2023-08/enhancing-pedagogical-knowledge-teaching-chinese-history-and-promoting-positive-psychology-through-virtual-reality)
Financial Year:
2022-23
Type:
TDG