Speak English : a collaborative language learning system using design thinking in second language education : an exegesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Design Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
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Date
2019
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Open Access Location
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Massey University
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Abstract
The desire to communicate and converse in a second language is often hampered by students’
lack of confidence, low motivation, passivity, unwillingness to take risks and/or over-reliance
on contrived teacher-directed activities. This aim of this project, therefore, is to design a
learning system that addresses these difficulties and thus helps English language learners
improve fluency.
The project highlights a clear connection between design thinking and cooperative language
learning, with both pedagogies promoting collaborative, real-life, team-based approaches. This,
in turn, suggests that incorporating design thinking into educational design can help learners
overcome the obstacles identified above and thereby become more fluent and confident when
conversing.
Given this, the project involves designing and prototyping a cooperative language learning
system drawing on the pedagogies of design thinking and design thinking for education. This
Speak English system is based on a process of ‘problem framing’ that aims to improve
communicative English competence through the motivational, risk-taking, ideational and
iterative aspects of design thinking .
The final design system consists of prototyped examples of instructional language learning
materials, including an app, a learners’ booklet and worksheets. An accompanying explanatory
poster and an animated overview of Speak English illustrate how the system works and how
communicational language learning activities are initiated. As it stands, the initial Speak English
system provides the basis for future integration of design thinking concepts (such as problem
framing) into language learning pedagogy and materials design.
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Keywords
English language, Study and teaching, Foreign speakers, Instructional systems, Mobile apps, Design