2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Exploring the impact of online study aboard on students' development of cognitive skills and L2 proficiency
| Project/Area Number |
22K00771
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| Research Institution | Kanda University of International Studies |
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Principal Investigator |
PARK Siwon 神田外語大学, グローバル・リベラルアーツ学部, 教授 (00458639)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2022-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Keywords | study abroad / cognitive skills / L2 proficiency |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The first-year goal was to build a research foundation. Therefore, I first collected and reviewed prior studies concerning the effects of study abroad (SA) on student learning. l then participated in two SA programs: an online program held in Japan for two weeks and an onsite program held in Malaysia/Borneo for another two weeks. I observed all online SA sessions delivered by four institutions from four different countries while keeping notes of learning activities and program features. I also video-recorded the students while they were interacting with the instructors and other student participants. Using an e-portfolio, I collected students' reflective journals on their learning experiences while they were participating in the online sessions.
While attending the onsite program in Malaysia/Borneo, I participated in all activities with the students so that I could understand the program’s features and observe students’ responses to the features. I kept a record of those program features and students' interactions whenever possible. From time to time, I conducted informal interviews with the students to understand how they were feeling about their learning experiences and how program features may relate to them. Using an e-portfolio, I collected students' reflective learning journals while they were participating in the onsite program as well.
Once I returned to Japan from Malaysia, I sorted out some of the data I collected from the two programs and conducted a preliminary analysis. I presented the findings from the analysis at a conference in the US.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Overall, the research is progressing as planned. Its first-year goal was to build the foundation by examining the specific technical and contextual characteristics of online and onsite study abroad (SA) programs. I participated in two SA programs, one online and the other onsite, conducted in Malaysia/Borneo. I was able to closely examine and take notes of the characteristics of each program in relation to student learning experiences. I was also able to collect their reflective journals on their learning experiences via an e-portfolio. I analyzed the data to understand how they perceived the SA programs and how the program features influenced their learning. I put together the preliminary findings and presented them at a conference held in the US.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In 2023, I'll continue to collect data by participating in an online SA program and an onsite one to be held in Pune, India. I'll continue to collect students' reflective journals while they are attending the two programs and after their return from the programs as well.
This year, I'll also collect data concerning students' English proficiency, problem-solving skills, and self-efficacy and begin to analyze them in relation to their SA experiences.
In addition, I'll devise and administer a questionnaire to examine the impact of SA experiences on their intercultural awareness, motivation, and attitude toward L2 learning and career choice.
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| Causes of Carryover |
As I didn't hire a research assistant for data management in 2022, some of the budget was left unspent. However, I'll collect more data in 2023 and will need to hire an assistant to sort it out. I'd like to spend the incurring budget on hiring the assistant.
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Research Products
(1 results)
