Over the last few years, Virtual Reality has become one of the most innovative teaching tools in many educational sectors. While some preliminary use of this technology has been tested in language learning, no VR tools of real significance have been developed for language classrooms up to this date. The potential for VR in language learning may be even greater than in other fields of education. VR can provide a fully immersive learning experience and while this method is proven to be the most effective for language learning, very few students would ever have a chance to experience language immersion without the implementation of VR technology. Through this project, we will develop an innovative platform for carrying out collaborative group language exercises in the classroom. These will provide an opportunity for students to practice the target language in a fully immersive way, mimicking the well established methodology of "Total Physical Response" in a way that has not been used in language learning before. These tools will enhance the effectiveness of language learning by boosting motivation of students, increasing communicative competencies, improve student focus towards certain details and enhance their cognitive skills. Project results will be developed through collaboration of five institutions from four different countries: Croatia, Spain, Bulgaria and Romania. Four of these are well established adult education institutions that have been providing language services for many years. Fifth partner is a holding company for a number of language schools with a history of providing technological support to language schools, and producing innovative learning platforms. Main project activities are: - production of Virtual Worlds (IO1) - production of VR language tasks (IO2) - production of Teachers' Notes (IO3) - production of User Manual (IO4) - two short-term teacher training events - multiplier events (three one-day workshops and Final Conference) These activities and developed resources lead to the production of our final output - an innovative VR tool for language learning. These also include the piloting of our product in various educational institutions. Supporting activities include teacher training and multiplier events. We expect this project to have a significant impact on both language education providers and language learners. Education providers will increase IT competencies of their teachers and staff, and gain access to an innovative teaching tool that will greatly increase their competitiveness on the market, as well as efficiency of their services. Learners will have an opportunity to experience fully immersive learning environment, leading to an increase in their motivation and decrease in early drop-outs. Long term benefits of our project are numerous. In addition to immediate benefits of implementation of VR technology in language learning, the possibilities of designing new exercises are limitless. We expect that upon completion of our projects, our tools will be implemented in many language schools across the EU, and believe that this will lead to further development of VR tools for language learning.
In the most direct terms - we wanted to introduce Virtual Reality as an innovative IT tool into adult education, specifically the language learning sector. The reasoning for developing VR as an important language learning tool was explained in the original grant proposal. During the project implementation and as a result of transnational collaboration, training and acquisition of new skills and knowledges by project teams, inclusion of associated partners through dissemination, implementation of impact activities and other, we discovered that VR had even greater teaching potential than what we originally proposed. In summary, VR in language learning provides opportunities for: - learning languages in fully immersive way, providing unique opportunities to all students and thus aiding towards inclusive education - applying traditional language learning methodologies such as TPR in a new and innovative way - increasing communicative and problem-solving skills in students, task-based learning - new teaching tool suited for students with a number of learning difficulties (as demonstrated by an external expert in dyslexia during the project implementation period) We believe this aim was reached in full.
The demands of the informational age society are growing with the rapid technological advancements and set forth new expectations from lifelong learning programs. There is an increasing need for changing and innovating teaching methods and for introducing and using ICT in teaching and the entire educational process. At the same time, the amount of new information available to teachers and learners is increasing on a daily basis. This sets forth a new approach to the educational process, both for teachers and staff as well as students, focusing a lot more on independent research, student-centered studies, efficient use of multiple resources and tools. Therefore, the importance of digital literacy emerges as a new key competence to support both learning and teaching models. We set fort to develop new and innovative language teaching tool which would contribute to: - increase motivation, focus and cognitive skills, develop critical and creative thinking and communicative competences of learners - increase teaching and IT skills and competences of language teachers as adult education providers - internationalization of lifelong learning and promoting cooperation between education providers on EU level