Exploring the potential of push notification in ESL: A qualitative inquiry

Abstract

Today, the use of technology in higher education institutions has bolstered levels of learner agency as well as generating new opportunities to create individual learning experiences, regardless of temporal or spatial challenges and limitations (Huang et al., 2019; Reychav et al., 2015). Such development has empowered learners to shape and facilitate personalised learning by enabling them to access e-learning resources anytime and anywhere. This study developed an application or “app” portal that affords students access to language learning materials while allowing teachers to support their students’ learning by sending them push notifications: messages that pop up on the screens of mobile devices. The lack of an existing English as a second language (ESL) app prevents students and teachers alike from being able to capitalize fully upon the capabilities of MALL technology. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to gain insight into the use of a mobile app, iELC, which we specifically intend to complement the in-class language learning environment and to foster a culture of self-directed learning–outside the classroom–among students by affording them access to a variety of language resources in the ESL contexts of higher education institutions in Hong Kong. To structure this explorative and interpretive pilot study, we focus on the following broad research question research question: What were the students’ perceptions of using the iELC app and receiving push notifications to support their learning?

Link to publication in The Journal of AsiaTEFL

Link to publication in Scopus