Tertiary Students Attitudes Towards Robot Assisted Language Learning (2018)

Focus group participants

Robot example cards

This research was part of the hypothetical Technology Enabled Second-Language Learning (TESLL) project which aimed to investigate how technologies can enhance student participation in second-language courses. This study used a focus group to investigate Australian tertiary students’ attitudes towards robot assisted language learning (RALL) at the University of Western Australia (UWA). It aimed to investigate whether RALL could enhance access to and engagement with second-language learning. The research was conducted at the UWA as part of the Advanced Qualitative Methods course and a thematic analysis was performed. Participants believed that robots could be useful, because unlike a human tutor they could be constantly accessible. They also believed robots could be engaging for children, but that students and parents might find it a waste of money.

Skills

  • Qualitative data collection

  • Thematic analysis

  • Nvivo software

  • User-centred design