Hands-on / hands-off: Alternative approaches to data-driven learning
Hands-on / hands-off: Alternative approaches to data-driven learning

Author(s): Alex Boulton
Subject(s): Education, Language acquisition, Methodology and research technology, Social Informatics, Philology
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: data-driven learning; inductive learning; paper-based corpus consultation; motivation; hands-on corpus-consultation;
Summary/Abstract: One of the most apparent obstacles to DDL is the use of the technology itself – the computer with its query software and interfaces for accessing electronic corpora. Where this is the case, the obvious question is whether the computer can be successfully removed from the equation without losing the benefits of the overall approach. In the present study, two groups of lower intermediate level learners at a college of architecture were introduced to an English language corpus both ‘hands on’ and ‘hands off’. The learning outcomes of the two approaches were tested, and compared against feedback obtained at the start and again at the end of the course. The general conclusion is that paper-based DDL does represent a viable option: there is unlikely to be a single best version of DDL for all learners in all situations at all times, and variety and sensitivity to learner variation and local conditions is crucial.

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