Personalised context-aware ubiquitous learning system for supporting effective English vocabulary learning

TLDR

English learning is widely pursued in non‑native speaking countries, and vocabulary is a core component; prior research shows that embedding learning in social, cultural, and real‑world contexts enhances motivation and efficiency. This study aims to develop a context‑aware ubiquitous learning system that adapts vocabulary instruction to learners’ location, time, and ability to improve English vocabulary acquisition. PCULS uses wireless positioning to detect location, combines it with learning time, vocabulary proficiency, and leisure time to personalize content delivered on mobile devices in schools. Experimental results show that the wireless positioning achieves over 92 % accuracy, the PCULS was successfully deployed on PDA devices, and learners using the context‑aware system performed better than those using a non‑contextualized version.

Abstract

Because learning English is extremely popular in non-native English speaking countries, developing modern assisted-learning schemes that facilitate effective English learning is a critical issue in English-language education. Vocabulary learning is vital within English learning because vocabulary comprises the basic building blocks of English sentences. Therefore, numerous studies have attempted to increase the efficiency and performance of learning English vocabulary. ‘The situational learning approach’ proposed that ‘context’ is an important consideration in the language learning process and can enhance learner learning interest and efficiency. Restated, meaningful vocabulary learning occurs only when the learning process is integrated with social, cultural and life contexts. With the rapid development of context-awareness techniques, the development of context-aware mobile learning systems, which can support learners in learning without constraints of time or place via mobile devices and associate learning activities with real learning environment, enables the conduct of a novel context-aware ubiquitous learning mode to enhance English vocabulary learning. Accordingly, this study proposes a personalised context-aware ubiquitous learning system (PCULS) for learning English vocabulary based on learner location as detected by wireless positioning techniques, learning time, individual English vocabulary abilities and leisure time, enabling learners to adapt their learning content to effectively support English vocabulary learning in a school environment. Experimental results indicated that the accuracy of the employed wireless positioning scheme is over 92%, which is sufficient to help learners detect their locations. Additionally, the PCULS has been successfully implemented on PDA devices in a school environment to support effective situational English vocabulary learning. Experimental result indicates that the learning performance of learners who used personalised English vocabulary learning systems with context awareness (i.e. PCULS) was superior to learners who used personalised English vocabulary learning systems without context awareness.