EXP: Exploring the Virtual World of Contextualized English Language Acquisition

EXP：探索情境化英语语言习得的虚拟世界

• 批准号: 1123569
• 负责人: Regina Mendez
• 金额: $ 54.95万
• 依托单位: Springfield Technical Community College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2014-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1123569&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EXP; Exploring; Virtual; World; Contextualized

The PIs are aiming to investigate how virtual world 3D technology can be used to address the limited opportunities adult immigrants and refugees have for exploring and practicing their English in authentic settings without the risk of seeming inarticulate. In partnership with WonderBuilders, Inc., Springfield Technical Community College is creating the 3D virtual environment to integrated into ELS (English as a Second Language) classes at the College. Using Open Wonderland, the PIs are creating a complete virtual campus in which students learning English can interact in virtual campus settings without being embarassed about their language capabilities. College students and personnel are also participating in the on-line community along with the English-language learners. Research is investigating development of confidence and improved competencies and experiences of engagement when the opportunity is given to practice and apply newly-learned grammar and vocabulary in real-world contexts. In addition to hypotheses about language learning, the PIs hypothesize that if engagement is in the context of campus activities, these students, who often hold full-time jobs and have families to take care of, will have more opportunities to engage in the life of the college community, therefore feeling and being more connected, and therefore being more apt to continue with their language learning and then to successfully matriculate and graduate.This project addresses two educational challenges. First, helping adult immigrants and refugees learn English, prepare for, and matriculate in higher education is a national challenge. This project is creating a model for such learning and advancement. Second, there is much hype about the use of games and 3D virtual environments for promoting learning but not much research on the real possibilities of doing this and how to use such software effectively for education. This project is contributing to understanding of how to use 3D virtual technology effectively to promote learning.

PI的目的是调查如何使用虚拟世界3D技术来解决成年移民和难民在真实环境中探索和实践其英语的有限机会，而不会出现看似不明显的风险。 Springfield技术社区学院与Wonderbuilders，Inc。合作，正在创建3D虚拟环境，以将ELS（英语作为第二语言）课程集成到该学院。 PI使用开放的仙境创建了一个完整的虚拟校园，在该校园中，学生学习英语可以在虚拟校园环境中进行互动，而不会对其语言能力感到尴尬。大学生和人员也与英语学习者一起参加了在线社区。研究正在调查信心的发展，并在有机会练习并在现实世界中应用新的语法和词汇时的能力和参与经验。除了关于语言学习的假设外，PI还假设，如果参与在校园活动的背景下，这些经常担任全职工作并有家庭需要照顾的学生将有更多的机会来参与大学社区的生活，从而感受到并更加联系，因此更加联系，因此更加与语言学习并成功地进行了努力，并进行了两次挑战。这两次挑战。首先，帮助成年移民和难民学习英语，准备和入学高等教育是一项国家挑战。该项目正在为这种学习和进步创建模型。其次，关于使用游戏和3D虚拟环境来促进学习，但对这样做的实际可能性以及如何有效地将这种软件用于教育的实际可能性进行了很多炒作。该项目有助于理解如何有效地使用3D虚拟技术来促进学习。