Phase Two: 2008-2009 FÓN Project

In October 2008 Learnosity successfully completed the deployment of its ground breaking language learning platform in the second phase of a strategic project with the NCCA, NCTE and Foras na Gaeilge.

This second phase follows on from the highly successful phase 1 pilot completed in 2007. This project was a huge success, and we were delighted to be asked by the NCCA to deliver a second pilot project.

The desirability of an oral assessment at junior cycle is accepted but the model in place at Leaving Certificate is not replicable due to issues of examiner supply and school disruption. The NCCA work on the FÓN project testing mobile phone and information communications technology approaches to language learning... will help to inform how this issue might be addressed in the longer term.
Batt O’Keefe, Irish Minister for Education and Science.

Participating Schools

For the FÓN project, the NCCA are working with six schools that are widely dispersed throughout Ireland. There are 14 teachers and 420 students participating, five times as many students as Phase 1.

The schools involved are:

Ratoath College, Co. Meath
St. Louis Secondary School, Co. Monaghan
Trinity Comprehensive School, Dublin
St. Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School, Belfast
St. Joseph’s Grammar School, Tyrone
St. Catherine’s College, Armagh.

FÓN Project Schools Map

Addition of Voice Chat Tool

In this phase we are incorporating Student-to-Student Voice Chat, where students, inside and outside of the classroom, dial in and are connected with a fellow classmate in a mini conference call; each student is given a separate but linked prompt. They then participate in a conference call based role-play with the other student. Teachers then listen to the conversation and provide feedback to the two students. As you can see below, teachers can visually see who is speaking at any one time.

Voice Chat

This allows for more student-centered learning, confidence, and practice. Learn more about Learnosity Voice Chat Tool.

Preliminary Feedback

The FÓN project is currently being evaluated with findings due in late 2009. Preliminary findings have indicated that the project has had a hugely positive impact on student learning due to the following reasons:

Students were motiviated by the technologies involved.
More opportunities were provided for students to practise their Irish and converse with others on the project.
There was a shift in learning from teacher led to student directed and this empowered students.
The ability to self assess allowed students to compare their levels of fluency with others.

Student Feedback

The phone is a brilliant way of learning. It is definitely a more interesting way to learn.

At the christmas exams, last year, before I started the project I got 64% but because of the FÓN project, I got 86% in my summer exams.

I liked that we got to practise our aural and oral Irish as well as our written. It was also more fun that classwork. I really enjoyed it.

I liked the whole ideas of using the mobile phone as it is something that young people can relate to and enjoy. Alos it is easy to use. I did not dislike anything at all about the project.

I feel more comfortable now speaking irish whereas I used to stress about tit and I worried if I didn't get a world right.

I am now more fluent and can cope with accents better.

Being able to talk to someone in Irish has improved my confidence and speaking skills.

I loved being able to learn Irish wherever and whenever I wanted to.

I like being able to listen back to my answers.

Source: Scoilnet Case study on the FÓN Project

Teacher Feedback

With the introduction of the oral Irish exam at Junior cycel level this project is invaluable.

There's been a huge improvement in all skills associated with learning Irish amongst our students.

I found that our top students polished off their Irish, our middle of the road students improved but our less academic improved most noticeably.

Students phoned the system after school and early in the morning. They even used their own phones after the project ended. This was a telling sign that the project genuinely engaged them.

We’re the talk of the school. Everyone’s talking about 10J and their phones. Some very positive feedback from parents today. Everyone [was] on last night at 7.00 and I had them 1st period today and they were still hyper.

Great to see the enthusiasm. They are very enthusiastic about the project. Every night the majority of them are doing one or two sessions. We have now finished ‘Mé féin’ and it went well.

Source: Scoilnet Case study on the FÓN Project & NCCA 2008 Annual Report (pdf)

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