I'm looking for recent research on augmented reality and language teaching/learning. I'd appreciate any contribution and also blogs where the topic is treated in depth. Thanks.
Hello, Laura. I have seen research about using Second Life for language learning, but I know that is different from Augmented Reality. I have never seen a paper or conference presentation addressing augmented reality. You may be the first!
Laura, augmented reality is so impressive and focuses certain elements of what one sees that surely would greatly impact on learning foreign languages. The three-dimensional effect could capture the attention of who learns more easily.
I guess you can play a lot with spatial association between words and objects for vocabulary improvement.
AR is also great if you need contextual information. You can use geo-spatially localised AR to improve learning related to a particular context (say restaurant, kitchen, shopping mall and so on). That would raise concerns on privacy though.
I think that 'augmented reality' can be viewed as a new learning-teaching strategy/technique that might be linked with Gibson's 'affordances theory' . It can be used for improving learning in general, and language learning in particular. It might include VIRTUAL learning stuff, especially the concept of 'immersion'. Learning is not a linear process that must start at point A, for example, and ends at point B! It's a dialogic integrative process that should go beyond traditional classroom practices. It will be a good and brilliant idea to mix reality with technological tools that might enhance language learning.
For me, it sounds a good idea to start right now with this useful Wikipedia account:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality
To have an older (but stronger) theoretical framework to draw on, you might have a look at Gibson's 'Affordance Theory':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance
You'll find many relevant studies on SCHOLAR. See this: