Abstract
Evidence suggests that technology enables teaching and learning to be more enhanced. One example where technology is used nowadays is through the use of mobile app. In the market, numerous mobile app software packages are developed for smartphone users for their convenience. For learning, particularly the learning of vocabulary, mobile apps are developed to assist young and adult learners to learn vocabulary in entertaining ways. Nevertheless, a primary concern with the use of mobile apps for the purpose of learning vocabulary is related to the players’ perceived usefulness and attitudes since they are the ones who will determine the level of acceptance of a particular mobile app. The current study, therefore, aims at identifying whether or not there are significant differences in male and female students’ perceived usefulness and attitudes in using VocBlast; a mobile vocabulary app to learn engineering and technology vocabulary. The study employed a survey method in collecting its data among 129 students studying at a higher education level in the East Coast of Malaysia. The results from the study revealed that there were no significant differences for male and female students in relation to their perceived usefulness and attitudes while playing VocBlast. These results may be explained by the fact that VocBlast is still new to the students, and thus more time is required to play the game. Moreover, having only 30–40 minutes to play the games for once seemed to be too short for them to show a positive attitude towards the app.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abadi SMM, Saadi FF (2015) Exploring Iranian EFL university students’attitudes toward mobile applications for vocabulary learning. Int J Lang Learn Appl Linguist World 9(1):130–142
Ali Z, Ghazali MAIM (2015) VocBlast: A qualitative evaluation on the use vocabulary mobile app from teachers’ views. In: Paper presented at 1st global conference on technology in language learning, pp 99–111
Ali ZJ, Mukundan R, Baki Ayub AFM (2012) Second language learners’ attitudes towards the methods of learning vocabulary. J Eng Lang Teach 5(4):24–36
Böhm S, Constantine GP (2016) Impact of contextuality on mobile learning acceptance: an empirical study based on a language learning app. Interact Technol Smart Educ 13(2):107–122
Chachil K, Engkamat A, Sarkawi A, Shuib ARA (2015) Interactive multimedia-based mobile application for learning iban language (I-MMAPS for learning iban language). Procedia Soc Behav Sci 167:267–273
Deng Q, Trainin G (2015) Learning vocabulary with apps: from theory to practice
FernáNdez-LóPez Á, RodríGuez-FóRtiz MJ, RodríGuez-Almendros ML, MartíNez-Segura MJ (2013) Mobile learning technology based on iOS devices to support students with special education needs. Comput Educ 61:77–90
Gaspar BL (2016) Ilokano to go: development and usability of an Ilokano vocabulary mobile app. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Hawai’I, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Gikas J, Grant MM (2013) Mobile computing devices in higher education: student perspectives on learning with cellphones, smartphones & social media. Internet High Educ 19:18–26
Hong JC, Hwang MY, Tai KH, Chen YL (2014) Using calibration to enhance students’ self-confidence in English vocabulary learning relevant to their judgment of over-confidence and predicted by smartphone self-efficacy and English learning anxiety. Comput Educ 72:313–322
Lai KW (2011) Digital technology and the culture of teaching and learning in higher education. Australas J Educ Technol 27(8):1263–1275
Liaw SS, Huang HM (2015) How factors of personal attitudes and learning environments affect gender difference toward mobile learning acceptance. Int Rev Res Open Distrib Learn 16(4):104–132
Mazaji B (2015) Effects of digital games on vocabulary acquisition of iranian low proficiency male and female EFL learners. Int J Foreign Lang Teach Res 3(10):83–92
Nunnally JC (1978) Assessment of reliability. In: Psychometric theory, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York
Shih RC, Lee C, Cheng TF (2015) Effects of English spelling learning experience through a mobile LINE App for college students. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 174:2634–2638
Steel C (2012) Fitting learning into life: language students’ perspectives on benefits of using mobile apps. In Ascilite, New Zealand, pp 875–880
Stockwell G, Hubbard P (2013) Some emerging principles for mobile-assisted language learning. Monterey, CA: the international research foundation for English language education. Retrieved from http://www.tirfonline.org/english-in-the-workforce/mobile-assisted-language-learning
Sylvén LK, Sundqvist P (2012) Gaming as extramural English L2 learning and L2 proficiency among young learners. ReCALL 24(03):302–321
Vahdat S, Behbahani AR (2013) The effect of video games on Iranian EFL learners’ vocabulary learning. Reading 13(1):61–71
Viberg O, Grönlund Å (2013) Cross-cultural analysis of users’ attitudes toward the use of mobile devices in second and foreign language learning in higher education: a case from Sweden and China. Comput Educ 69:169–180
Wu Q (2014) Learning ESL vocabulary with smartphones. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 143:302–307
Yau HK, Cheng ALF (2012) Gender difference of confidence in using technology for learning. J Technol Stud 38(2). https://doi.org/10.21061/jots.v38i2.a.2
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Project ID RDU1403122.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Ali, Z., Muhammad, N.N. (2019). Gender Differences in Perceived Usefulness and Attitudes Towards VocBlast in Learning Specialized Vocabulary. In: Mohamad Noor, M., Ahmad, B., Ismail, M., Hashim, H., Abdullah Baharum, M. (eds) Proceedings of the Regional Conference on Science, Technology and Social Sciences (RCSTSS 2016) . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0203-9_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0203-9_22
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0202-2
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0203-9
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)