Transformations: Mobile interaction & language learning

Mobile devices and the interactions that these technologies afford have the potential to change the face and nature of education in our schools. Indeed, mobile technological advances are seen to offer better access to educational material and new interactive ways to learn. However, the question arises, as to whether these new technologies are being used to their full 'interactive' potential? In Wales, the Welsh language strategy (2012-2017) is pushing to ensure that the Welsh language can embrace new technologies and use them to support and facilitate it's use by Welsh language learners and speakers. As more and more Welsh schools invest in ipads and handheld devices, it is important that the way these schools use these technologies evolves too. These new technologies (and the new interactions that they provide) need to be closely stitched with the desired learning objectives to ensure value, new meaning and learner engagement is achieved. This paper reports on an initial empirical study into the design of a Welsh Learning application, particularly the alignment of the interaction facilities of the technology and learning material in an at tempt to harness the desired learning experience.