Robert Remmerswaal
Sojo University (Japan)
About
Interested in collaboration, COIL, and using eSports to promote English outside of the classroom. Message me on Discord or send an email if you want to collaborate or participate in a virtual exchange with my university students in Japan. robertr(at)m.sojo-u.ac.jpSessions
Synchronous (Onsite) The effect of COIL on student communication and soft skills more
Sun, Apr 30, 09:00-09:25 Asia/Seoul
This presentation looks at the use of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) from the perspective of Japanese students. Students from Japan, Spain, and Türkiye worked together on three major outputs connected to Sustainable Development Goals. The teachers designed the COIL elements based on the Pedagogy of Multiliteracies. Students worked in groups of five to seven and collaborated using video calls and text messages over the course of nine weeks. Students completed a pre- and post-intervention survey that focused on perceived communication competence, foreign language anxiety, and soft skills. The final survey included open-ended questions. Students completed three reflections throughout the COIL to share their thoughts on the group dynamic and their use of soft skills throughout the project. Based on the surveys and reflections, it appears that the COIL project had a positive effect on students perceived communication competence, foreign language anxiety, and on the development of soft skills.
Synchronous (Onsite) Minecraft: PBL 21st-Century program proposal more
Sat, Apr 29, 12:30-14:30 Asia/Seoul
Launching in 2011, Minecraft’s popularity has continued to grow. The sandbox nature of Minecraft allows for incredible freedom in terms of competition, cooperation, solo, structured, semi-structured, or free-roam activities. The authors have taken their experience and student feedback from their 2-year long Minecraft project conducted through their university’s Self-Access Learning Center to propose a more formal course and/or certificate program. This program will focus on increasing students’ English-based 21st-century skills through a project-based framework. They have put together three possible program plans to better accommodate teacher and administrative needs, a full 16-week semester option, an 8-week elective course, and the most versatile, a 6-week certificate workshop. Overall academic goals are framed through a CEFR lens with various “can-do” milestones. Various outputs have been proposed such as a PBL learning journal, Minecraft co-op puzzle maps, Minecraft-theme “lifeboat exercises,” and having students create how-to tutorial videos.
