Bare conductive ink as a tool to teach pupils EFL vocabulary

Abstract

Following the most recent models, smart technologies in education are identified as a way to promote multiple learning abilities through digital tools [1]. More specifically, the introduction of smart educational tools can emphasize personalized and custom-made knowledge, interactive learning activities, logical awareness, self-learning and team-based learning. Thanks to these features, it appears that Augmented Reality (AR) in education might be a way to make learning “smarter”. This technology has become more and more popular in language teaching thanks to the high level of active engagement it provides in learners and the favorable outcomes observed through its use [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]. In order to integrate traditional teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) with multimodal and multisensory interventions, a pilot experiment was carried out with the use of “Bare Conductive Ink”, a tool that helps creating interactive objects and environments through the use of sensors-electrodes and conductive ink. Fifteen students between eight and eleven years old carried out an English activity Learning Unit focused on A1 lexicon (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) using the smart toolkit to listen, explore and repeat words. Despite further research with more participants is needed for more comprehensive results, the aim of the project was to observe the impact of the tool on students’ level of active engagement and interest in the activities and, above all, to investigate its effectiveness, applicability and ease of use, identifying strengths and hurdles when introducing the “Bare Conductive Ink” in class.