Usability Testing of VLASTWA: A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App

Siamak Mirzaei; Trent Lewis; Mirella Wyra; Brett Wilkinson

doi:10.1145/3441000.3441056

Usability Testing of VLASTWA: A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App

Siamak Mirzaei, Trent Lewis, Mirella Wyra, Brett Wilkinson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

While vocabulary learning is one of the challenging tasks of language learning, it is considered indispensable for language mastery. Vocabulary learning presents similar challenges for professionals who need to master new terminology and definitions. The use of technology has been seen to effectively support learners in the vocabulary learning challenges. In this paper, the usability and learnability of a bespoke web app, VLASTWA, is assessed in terms of usability, effectiveness and pedagogical efficacy. VLASTWA was designed and implemented utilizing effective and extensively researched vocabulary learning technique, the keyword method. In this experimental study, participants (n=160, age = 18-60) learned to use the keyword method and employed it in new vocabulary learning (Persian-English) using VLASTWA. VLASTWA experimental web app performed well in a usability study using System Usability Scale with a rating of 91.5%. Results demonstrated the web app as a usable and efficient instrument in acquiring new vocabulary and future research will investigate the inherent use of the designed web app for different population, other languages and sets of words and emerging technologies such as augment reality and virtual reality and electroencephalogram.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 32nd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2020
Editors	Naseem Ahmadpour, Tuck Leong, Bernd Ploderer, Callum Parker, Sarah Webber, Diego Munoz, Lian Loke, Martin Tomitsch
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Pages	614-621
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	9781450389754
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3441000.3441056
Publication status	Published - 2 Dec 2020
Event	32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction - Australia, Sydney, Australia Duration: 2 Dec 2020 → 4 Dec 2020 Conference number: 32nd http://www.ozchi.org/2020/

Publication series

Name	ACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference	32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction
Abbreviated title	OzCHI '20
Country/Territory	Australia
City	Sydney
Period	2/12/20 → 4/12/20
Other	OzCHI is the annual non-profit conference for the Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group (CHISIG) and Australia's leading forum for the latest in HCI research and practice. OzCHI attracts a broad international community of researchers, industry practitioners, academics and students. Participants come from a range of backgrounds and include interaction designers, user experience (UX) practitioners, information architects, software engineers, human factors experts, information systems analysts and social scientists.
Internet address	http://www.ozchi.org/2020/

Keywords

Computer assisted language learning
Human computer interaction
System usability scale
The keyword method

Access to Document

10.1145/3441000.3441056Licence: In Copyright

Cite this

Mirzaei, S., Lewis, T., Wyra, M., & Wilkinson, B. (2020). Usability Testing of VLASTWA: A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App. In N. Ahmadpour, T. Leong, B. Ploderer, C. Parker, S. Webber, D. Munoz, L. Loke, & M. Tomitsch (Eds.), Proceedings of the 32nd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2020 (pp. 614-621). (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series). Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3441000.3441056

Mirzaei, Siamak ; Lewis, Trent ; Wyra, Mirella et al. / Usability Testing of VLASTWA : A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App. Proceedings of the 32nd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2020. editor / Naseem Ahmadpour ; Tuck Leong ; Bernd Ploderer ; Callum Parker ; Sarah Webber ; Diego Munoz ; Lian Loke ; Martin Tomitsch. New York : Association for Computing Machinery, 2020. pp. 614-621 (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series).

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abstract = "While vocabulary learning is one of the challenging tasks of language learning, it is considered indispensable for language mastery. Vocabulary learning presents similar challenges for professionals who need to master new terminology and definitions. The use of technology has been seen to effectively support learners in the vocabulary learning challenges. In this paper, the usability and learnability of a bespoke web app, VLASTWA, is assessed in terms of usability, effectiveness and pedagogical efficacy. VLASTWA was designed and implemented utilizing effective and extensively researched vocabulary learning technique, the keyword method. In this experimental study, participants (n=160, age = 18-60) learned to use the keyword method and employed it in new vocabulary learning (Persian-English) using VLASTWA. VLASTWA experimental web app performed well in a usability study using System Usability Scale with a rating of 91.5%. Results demonstrated the web app as a usable and efficient instrument in acquiring new vocabulary and future research will investigate the inherent use of the designed web app for different population, other languages and sets of words and emerging technologies such as augment reality and virtual reality and electroencephalogram.",

keywords = "Computer assisted language learning, Human computer interaction, System usability scale, The keyword method",

author = "Siamak Mirzaei and Trent Lewis and Mirella Wyra and Brett Wilkinson",

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booktitle = "Proceedings of the 32nd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2020",

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Mirzaei, S, Lewis, T, Wyra, M & Wilkinson, B 2020, Usability Testing of VLASTWA: A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App. in N Ahmadpour, T Leong, B Ploderer, C Parker, S Webber, D Munoz, L Loke & M Tomitsch (eds), Proceedings of the 32nd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2020. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, Association for Computing Machinery, New York, pp. 614-621, 32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2/12/20. https://doi.org/10.1145/3441000.3441056

Usability Testing of VLASTWA: A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App. / Mirzaei, Siamak; Lewis, Trent; Wyra, Mirella et al.
Proceedings of the 32nd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2020. ed. / Naseem Ahmadpour; Tuck Leong; Bernd Ploderer; Callum Parker; Sarah Webber; Diego Munoz; Lian Loke; Martin Tomitsch. New York: Association for Computing Machinery, 2020. p. 614-621 (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Wyra, Mirella

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N1 - Conference code: 32nd

PY - 2020/12/2

Y1 - 2020/12/2

N2 - While vocabulary learning is one of the challenging tasks of language learning, it is considered indispensable for language mastery. Vocabulary learning presents similar challenges for professionals who need to master new terminology and definitions. The use of technology has been seen to effectively support learners in the vocabulary learning challenges. In this paper, the usability and learnability of a bespoke web app, VLASTWA, is assessed in terms of usability, effectiveness and pedagogical efficacy. VLASTWA was designed and implemented utilizing effective and extensively researched vocabulary learning technique, the keyword method. In this experimental study, participants (n=160, age = 18-60) learned to use the keyword method and employed it in new vocabulary learning (Persian-English) using VLASTWA. VLASTWA experimental web app performed well in a usability study using System Usability Scale with a rating of 91.5%. Results demonstrated the web app as a usable and efficient instrument in acquiring new vocabulary and future research will investigate the inherent use of the designed web app for different population, other languages and sets of words and emerging technologies such as augment reality and virtual reality and electroencephalogram.

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Mirzaei S, Lewis T, Wyra M, Wilkinson B. Usability Testing of VLASTWA: A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App. In Ahmadpour N, Leong T, Ploderer B, Parker C, Webber S, Munoz D, Loke L, Tomitsch M, editors, Proceedings of the 32nd Australian Computer-Human Interaction Conference, OzCHI 2020. New York: Association for Computing Machinery. 2020. p. 614-621. (ACM International Conference Proceeding Series). doi: 10.1145/3441000.3441056

Usability Testing of VLASTWA: A Vocabulary and Strategy Teaching Web App

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Keywords

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