Star Trek’s universal translator, augmented and virtual realities, gaming … and language learning? Social media and augmented/virtual realities are redefining learning environments, creating new arenas that change how we interact with and perceive our world. In this presentation, we review the current language learning landscape, explore where it’s heading, and construct opportunities for educators to take advantage of these new opportunities and ideas.
We examine languages classes based in fluid social media virtual classrooms over a 4 ½ year period. We observe actual online and face-to-face classes taught using a Facebook platform (no other Learning/Course Management Systems), and multidisciplinary and social media projects created by students in a tiered environment. The online and blended/hybrid students are integrated, learning together, and collaborating on transmedia projects. The language classes explore culture in larger scale transdisciplinary projects. The highly personalized assignments are compiled into AR-portfolios. Students finish with applied language as well as transmedia and team-building skills. We also survey the impact that the social media platform has had on student success & retention data.
