[RNLD] List or review of language apps

[Jenny Green]

Hi John and Ben
I  agree with these comments - but everyone is caught in the bind of needing to build it before you can test it. Same issue for dictionaries of all varieties too. There are very few user studies, and the effort, resources and persistence that is needed from all concerned to get these products off the ground wears everyones out! Aside from the problem of measuring language learning….
Cheers
Jenny 

> On 24 Feb 2017, at 5:25 PM, Ben Foley <ben at cbmm.io> wrote:
> 
> Hi John
> 
> I haven't come across research into the effectiveness of these apps for language learning. I agree, it would be great to know. Imagine if, when apps are made, some sort of evaluation is included in the project, to pick up even some of the knowledge of whether they are used after the first launch, let alone whether they achieve any sort of success in terms of learning over time. And this knowledge shared so that other groups could learn from what works, what doesn't. It seems that this sort of observation is difficult under the common funding that lots of these app builds are done, where the money must be spent in a year. It can be difficult to get a long-term vision from funding agencies. Perhaps one of the schools/universities/peak bodies/centres of excellence would be well placed for such a study? Any takers?
> 
> regards,
> Ben
> 
>> On 24 Feb 2017, at 16:12, Mark <ellentreow at internode.on.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Thank you, John, for this most pertinent observation.
>> 
>> Mark.
>> 
>> 
>> On 24/02/17 16:38, John Hobson wrote:
>>> It would be of great interest if someone were to undertake empirical research on the effectiveness of these apps. Do people actually learn (better) from them? I tend to see a lot of finger action and reading, but precious little oral communication taking place when people use them. It might be more productive to get people to use their phones to have conversations with native speakers.
>>> 
>>> Regards,
>>> 
>>> John
>>> 
>>> JOHN HOBSON | Lecturer
>>> Director, Graduate Indigenous Education Programs
>>> Sydney School of Education & Social Work                        
>>> 
>>> THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
>>> Rm 711, Education Building A35
>>> The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006     
>>> 
>>> T +61 2 9351 6994 | F +61 2 9351 6924
>>> E john.hobson at sydney.edu.au 
>>> W Staff Profile | Patyegarang, Indigenous Australian languages education
>>> 
>>> "Language is the DNA of a culture, and it is the vehicle for the traditions, customs, stories, history, and beliefs of a people.
>>> A lost language is a lost culture.” US National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman, Bruce Cole, (2005).
>>> 
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>>> 
>>> On 24/2/17, 2:27 pm, "Ben Foley" <ben at cbmm.io> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Samantha
>>> 
>>> I've shared a list of some that I came across while working on 'Angkety Map', the First Languages Australia digital resources report. I'll clean up the list a little, and check that links are still valid.
>>> 
>>> The list is on Google Drive here: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/1RkEBaHaeepDcE?domain=goo.gl
>>> 
>>> The report is here: https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/V810B2Sw88qDS9?domain=firstlanguages.org.au
>>> 
>>> regards,
>>> Ben
>>> 
>>> On 21 Feb 2017, at 17:42, Margaret Carew <margaret.carew at batchelor.edu.au> wrote:
>>> Hi – looks like you’re the one compiling the list!
>>> Here is an article about the Getting in Touch project
>>> http://hdl.handle.net/10125/24645
>>> Here is a PDF of some slides from a talk last year
>>> https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/5vYEBwtn88gDC7?domain=dropbox.com
>>> And some info on our website about books with apps
>>> https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/gn98BxSK44l2Fa?domain=call.batchelor.edu.au
>>> https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/oDLrBgcvkkQEcv?domain=call.batchelor.edu.au
>>> These are built on the Jila framework, which was developed by Thoughtworks for Yawuru
>>> https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/AG1dBvTZ22XdcQ?domain=itunes.apple.com
>>> Cheers, MC
>>> Dr Margaret Carew
>>> Linguist, CALL
>>> Division of Higher Education and Research
>>> Batchelor Institute – Desert People’s Centre campus
>>> tel: 08 8951 8344 | 0422 418 559
>>> email: margaret.carew at batchelor.edu.au | https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/38LEBkSpXXeAH8
>>> <2B5F40B5-4E8F-4409-A584-17704AE7BB95[6].png>
>>> Both-Ways Tertiary Education and Research
>>> From: Britt Jacobsen <brittjacobsen at yahoo.com.au>
>>> Reply-To: Britt Jacobsen <brittjacobsen at yahoo.com.au>
>>> Date: Tuesday, 21 February 2017 at 4:48 PM
>>> To: Samantha Disbray <Samantha.Disbray at cdu.edu.au>, "r-n-l-d at unimelb.edu.au" <r-n-l-d at unimelb.edu.au>
>>> Subject: Re: [RNLD] List or review of language apps
>>> Yaama Samantha
>>> I use the Gamilaraay app 'Ma!' - https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/q0YmBAt8EE6RuK?domain=itunes.apple.com
>>> Britt
>>> From: Samantha Disbray <Samantha.Disbray at cdu.edu.au>
>>> To: "r-n-l-d at unimelb.edu.au" <r-n-l-d at unimelb.edu.au>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, 21 February 2017, 13:07
>>> Subject: [RNLD] List or review of language apps
>>> Hi there
>>> Has anyone compiled a list or review of language apps in use for Australian languages?
>>> All responses appreciated and will be passed on to a Central Australian group keen to get an overview of what’s out there and effective for languages teaching and learning – for ages 3-adult.
>>> Thanks
>>> Samantha Disbray
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Mark Clendon
>> +61 8 8388 2584 
>> 
>