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Using Technology to Support English Language Learners in Higher Education: A Study of Voxy's Effect on English Language Proficiency

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Title: Using Technology to Support English Language Learners in Higher Education: A Study of Voxy's Effect on English Language Proficiency
Language: English
Authors: Faria, Ann-Marie, Bergey, Rebecca, Baird, Ashley Simpson, Lishinski, Alex, American Institutes for Research (AIR)
Source: American Institutes for Research. 2019.
Availability: American Institutes for Research. 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007. Tel: 202-403-5000; Fax: 202-403-5001; e-mail: inquiry@air.org; Web site: http://www.air.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2019
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: Educational Technology, English Language Learners, Higher Education, Language Proficiency, Computer Oriented Programs, Handheld Devices, Outcomes of Education, Community Colleges, Two Year College Students, Computer Assisted Instruction, Instructional Effectiveness, Language Laboratories, Achievement Gains
Abstract: Although English language learners (ELLs) have an increasing presence in postsecondary education, their unique needs are often unmet by institutions of higher education, partly resulting from their diversity--they vary in their educational backgrounds, English proficiency levels, career goals, and reasons for learning English. Many ELLs spend valuable time and money on remedial courses that do not meet their educational needs, which makes them less likely to persist in their coursework or enter a degree track. Technology-mediated English language instruction may be a solution to the pressing challenges that postsecondary institutions face in providing personalized instruction to ELLs, because it allows instruction to be tailored to an individual's English proficiency, academic needs, and professional interests. This study specifically tested the efficacy of one such educational technology--Voxy, a web- and mobile-based application--for improving ELLs' English language proficiency. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to understand whether access to Voxy's online platform as part of the regular coursework in a community college language laboratory improved ELLs' English language acquisition after one semester. The two primary research questions were these: (1) Does access to Voxy's web and mobile platforms increase ELLs' English language proficiency after one semester?; and (2) How is student use of the Voxy platform related to English language proficiency? After one semester of use: (1) Students with access to Voxy had larger English language gains than their peers in the comparison group; and (2) Platform usage was lower than recommended, but students consistently used Voxy outside of regular lab times. Findings provide promising evidence that Voxy can support English language learning in community college language labs.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2019
Accession Number: ED596252
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED596252
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  Data: Using Technology to Support English Language Learners in Higher Education: A Study of Voxy's Effect on English Language Proficiency
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Faria%2C+Ann-Marie%22">Faria, Ann-Marie</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bergey%2C+Rebecca%22">Bergey, Rebecca</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Baird%2C+Ashley+Simpson%22">Baird, Ashley Simpson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lishinski%2C+Alex%22">Lishinski, Alex</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22American+Institutes+for+Research+%28AIR%29%22">American Institutes for Research (AIR)</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22American+Institutes+for+Research%22"><i>American Institutes for Research</i></searchLink>. 2019.
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  Data: American Institutes for Research. 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007. Tel: 202-403-5000; Fax: 202-403-5001; e-mail: inquiry@air.org; Web site: http://www.air.org
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  Data: N
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  Data: 25
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Two+Year+Colleges%22">Two Year Colleges</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Technology%22">Educational Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+Language+Learners%22">English Language Learners</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Oriented+Programs%22">Computer Oriented Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Handheld+Devices%22">Handheld Devices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Colleges%22">Community Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Two+Year+College+Students%22">Two Year College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Assisted+Instruction%22">Computer Assisted Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Laboratories%22">Language Laboratories</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Achievement+Gains%22">Achievement Gains</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Although English language learners (ELLs) have an increasing presence in postsecondary education, their unique needs are often unmet by institutions of higher education, partly resulting from their diversity--they vary in their educational backgrounds, English proficiency levels, career goals, and reasons for learning English. Many ELLs spend valuable time and money on remedial courses that do not meet their educational needs, which makes them less likely to persist in their coursework or enter a degree track. Technology-mediated English language instruction may be a solution to the pressing challenges that postsecondary institutions face in providing personalized instruction to ELLs, because it allows instruction to be tailored to an individual's English proficiency, academic needs, and professional interests. This study specifically tested the efficacy of one such educational technology--Voxy, a web- and mobile-based application--for improving ELLs' English language proficiency. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to understand whether access to Voxy's online platform as part of the regular coursework in a community college language laboratory improved ELLs' English language acquisition after one semester. The two primary research questions were these: (1) Does access to Voxy's web and mobile platforms increase ELLs' English language proficiency after one semester?; and (2) How is student use of the Voxy platform related to English language proficiency? After one semester of use: (1) Students with access to Voxy had larger English language gains than their peers in the comparison group; and (2) Platform usage was lower than recommended, but students consistently used Voxy outside of regular lab times. Findings provide promising evidence that Voxy can support English language learning in community college language labs.
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  Data: ED596252
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Educational Technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English Language Learners
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Oriented Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Handheld Devices
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      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
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      – SubjectFull: Community Colleges
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      – SubjectFull: Two Year College Students
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Assisted Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Language Laboratories
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      – SubjectFull: Achievement Gains
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      – TitleFull: Using Technology to Support English Language Learners in Higher Education: A Study of Voxy's Effect on English Language Proficiency
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