MALL was the first phase of the study embarked upon by the NCCA. The project evaluation showed that students' competence in Irish had benefited from participation in the project and that their enjoyment in learning Irish was enhanced. Teachers noted the positive shift to more student-centred learning and increased student motivation for using Irish.
The second year Junior Certificate students (average age of 14) participating in the pilot project were supplied with a mobile telephone for the duration of the initiative. The students used Learnosity Voice for the duration of the project.
It's important to note that the school chosen to participate in the project demonstrated how the project could succeed under circumstances where the school was not well equipped with technology.
While the school had excellent teaching staff and management, the chosen school had no technical support staff, the students were being taught in temporary buildings that included corporate boxes in a local horseracing course. The unconventional classrooms meant that teaching was called to a halt each time a race meeting was scheduled. In demonstrating that the technology can work reliably and beneficially in these circumstances, we have shown that it can succeed throughout Ireland and the rest of the world.
“The use of mobile phones, including text messaging, in the teaching of Irish in secondary schools is a novel idea and it seems to be catching on. All indications are students in a pilot programme (MALL) enjoy using the new teaching techniques which employ their favourite means of communication”
Irish Independent (Newspaper), 12 July 2007.
The report came to many of the same conclusions as the Australian MALL report; that this technology increased students' motivation, confidence and language speaking abilities; that teachers enjoyed the ability to be more interactive with all of the students and provide more individual feedback; that the classroom experience was much more enjoyable, with more participation and energy.
“I liked it because it put a lot of fun into learning Irish and I think it was beneficial to me for my Junior Cert. Before the mobile phone project I wasn’t good at pronouncing words or speaking and this made me better.”
Student, MALL Project
Students reported speaking more Irish and being more motivated to speak Irish.
They remarked on their increased competence with specific references to comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and grammar. Students enjoyed the use of 'new age' technologies to learn and speak Irish and the autonomous learning facilitated by the any time/any place access to the system. The technologies used didn't represent any barrier to learning, in fact, students reported that their use broke down barriers and that they were more comfortable and confident using them as a medium for learning than more traditional methods.
Teachers commented on students' increased motivation for learning and speaking Irish. They emphasised the positive shift from more teacher-led learning to student-led learning and the student autonomy the system facilitated. Teachers appreciated the new and more interactive way to provide feedback to students and that the system allowed them more contact time with each student, especially those who would usually be quieter in class. Teachers noted that students showed improved self-esteem and confidence in speaking Irish.
Source: NCCA FÓN Website
In the 2007 Annual Report the NCCA refer to the MALL project in the context of their strategic objective to "Continue with the recently established practice of engaging directly with schools and other educational settings in the process of curriculum and assessment review and development".
The report goes on to explain that during 2007 the NCCA developed and evaluated the MALL pilot project. Stated in the report is that the project evaluation showed "that students’ competence in Irish has benefited from participation in the project and that their enjoyment in learning Irish was enhanced."
The teachers involved in MALL attested to the "positive shift to more student-centred learning and increased student motivation for using Irish".
The NCCA shares some interesting insights from second year (13 and 14 year olds) students that took part in the MALL project.
“I think using mobile phones to teach teenagers is a good idea because most teenagers are stuck to their phone and they couldn’t live without it!”
Student, MALL Project
“I spoke more Irish in my sentences on and off the phone and I learned new words.”
Student, MALL Project
“It gave me more practice at home and my teacher could still correct me.”
Student, MALL Project
“It was a new and fun way to learn Irish.”
Student, MALL Project
Teachers alike were supportive of the MALL project and the use of Learnosity Voice:
“It’s nice to hear students you wouldn’t usually hear too much in class talking on the recordings. It’s more interesting and interactive than sitting with a red pen.”
Teacher, MALL Project
The entire annual report is available on the NCCA website (pdf) .
Use of Mobile Phones for Language Learning and Assessment for Learning, a Pilot Project (5 Pages, pdf, 200kb) Co-written by Katrina Keogh, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and Learnosity CEO Gavin Cooney.
