A recent study conducted by Huw Jarvis and Marta Szymcyk published as "Student views on learning grammar with web-and book- based materials", in the ELT Journal in March of 2009, looked at student's attitudes to learning grammar in self study (independent) contexts and their preferences for the learning materials they used to do so (i.e. online or paper/pencil). What I found interesting (and I will get into the details of the study further into this post) was that "data suggests that despite the well-documented advantages of the tutorial role of computers, and the notion of the 'digital native', participants generally preferred working with paper-based materials"(Jarvis and Szymcyk 32).
With the rise of our new "digial native" students, we would assume these students would prefer web-based, multimedia, or online grammar instuction. In this study, researchers used the tutorial approaches of CALL. CALL is not 100% multimedia but is web-based instruction with a mix of visual and auditory instruction. In this particular study, the researchers cite two arguments in support of the tutorials of CALL over paper based grammar instruction; first, with instant feedback, this approach is helpful in developing learner independence, and second, the motivational value has been considered significant. I will discuss these advantages; individualized learning, motivation and a student centered classroom, later in this blog.
The materials of this study were a free website and a traditional sef-study book. For the web sites used, "the primary difference between the materials lies in the medium of delivery and the feedback (automated websites)"(34). The web-based materials used were http://www.english-4u.de/grammarI.htm and http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-perfect.htm. For paper based materials, they used Murphy (2004) and Vince and Emerson (2006). In the study, they do site this as a limitation (needed a variety of resources), but their findings through the questionairre were interesting. After using both methods, students sited the positive aspects of web based instruction as having more variety (which is good because we know with more student choice comes better outcomes). Students did mention a lack of skills or lack of organization patterns as negative aspects of the sites used, but I think this is a key finding.
Web based instruciton does offer more variety and I think more interesting approaches to instruction. In this study, the participants were both native and non-native English speakers and perhaps that skewed the results of the study, but at the same time with our now increasingly diverse classrooms, perhaps this is the current "norm". We should never assume students are digital natives or assume they have skills necessary to make them feel comfortable with online grammar instruction. What I walked away from this study with is best stated in the conclusion of this particular study which states, "This study suggests that despite the era of the digital natives our students have not, under certain circumstances, abandoned more traditional resources and it would be a mistake for practicioners and other resource providers to slavighly follow the digitized medium route for everything"(38). Now I feel this is a bit black and white...I think teachers can use the digitized medium as a supplemental addition to courses, it does not have to be for "everything", and I would not assume anyone expects that of students or teachers. I think this also again points to the attitude of teachers and students. If there is a feeling that we are "slavishly following" anything, then that is not a positive way to look at it. The future of instruction in general is changing and implementating, integration, and training are essential as I it at this point.
Works Cited: 1. Jarvis, Huw and Marta zymcyk. "Student views on learning grammar with web-and book-based materials". ELT Journal. Vol. 64, Issue 1. pp 34-44.
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