Promote Learning with ePals

Effects of Using ePals SchoolMail365 to Supplement Social and Language Studies

Background

ePals is intended to be used for and by K-12 students in the classroom and at home with innovative web-based tools and digital media on the Web. The idea is to create real world, culturally-enriching learning experiences for the students involved by matching classroom students of different languages and cultures to work on a project together. For example, a high school class studying Vietnamese in the U.S. can connect with a class studying English in Vietnam to do cultural, historical, and language exchanges authentically; or to work on a project together.

SchoolMail365 is a safe and protected space for students to interact with each other. Educators can manage and monitor what students see, whom they communicate with and how they interact.

This proposed case study would seek to examine connections between a diverse high-school student-body in an American classroom with a Vietnamese high school classroom from a prestigious high school (where majority students can speak fluent English). The study would be aimed to look at the following aspects: 1) topical knowledge; 2) technological issues; 3) culture-derived communication issues; 4) written English language proficiency; and 5) critical thinking.

Importance

This particular study will look into the perceived effects of a one-to-one, authentic cultural and language exchanges between the two groups of participants under the 5 above factors. The ultimate goal of this proposed study is to encourage students’ a proactive approach to learning and promote authentic learning and information exchange beyond the classroom. It is important to find out what role each of the five factors above plays in the learning procedure, and to detect any possible barriers to this learning process.

Participants

Approximately 30 American and 30 Vietnamese high school students

Prerequisites

Students have access to the internet at school and at home

Qualified written English language command

Research question

Is ePals SchoolMail365 an effective tool to promote language and culture exchange among the American and Vietnamese high school students?

Setting/Procedure

Participants will take part in the learning exchange for 2 months using ePals SchoolMail365 under their teachers’ supervision. Connections among teachers on both ends are mandatory. Topical knowledge is supposed to be current and under control and there is a need to assure the content of the email exchange is appropriate.

Data Collection and Analysis

Data for analysis include two parts of students’ performance after the experiment: 1) students’ exchange emails on the assigned topics of the project, and 2) students’ presentation on the topic at the end of the experiment.

Inspiration for the Study

Korycinski, J. (2001). Promoting Learning with ePals: A Case Study (A diverse Florida classroom connects with European peers). Retrieved from http://images.epals.com/downloads/esm_case_study.pdf

http://www.epals.com/#!/info/about/