Ana María Pinto Llorente

To Be or Not to Be Successful?: That Does Not Only Depend on Technology, But Also on Human Factors

The increase of blended learning education has been identified as an important goal in improving teaching-learning technological models. However, when considering this development it becomes essential to take into account the potential characteristics that students must have to be successful in this kind of education. This study is based on this human aspect. Thus, the authors have focused on learners and the fundamental qualities that they must have to study English via a hypermedia modular model and get their goals. Based on the results of this research the authors can indicate that characteristics like reasonable computer skills, ability to work both individually and in groups, capability of being organized and tenacious in their learning, a high level of academic maturity and a reasonable competence in English that allows them to be autonomous in their learning are essential features to be successful in this type of education.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Interactive and Collaborative Resources to Improve Reading and Writing in English

This paper presents a mixed research developed at the Pontifical University of Salamanca with students of intermediate level of English. It examines the effectiveness of the application of interactive and collaborative resources to improve reading and writing in English. Based on the overall evaluation of the blended course, most students believe that online glossary, online questionnaire, wiki and forum are good tools to improve their written skills. They are strongly aware of the necessity of improving these skills, and consider that the activities designed through these technological tools have allowed them to foster effective written communication in a variety of situations. Students also emphasize the potential of collaborative tools to communicate and develop collaborative learning. However, some students consider that there is a lack of privacy and fluency in communication, and believe that interactions are impersonal and disorganized, so they have had problems to do the activities and communicate suitably.