What is being researched in CALL?

I keep reading Teaching and Researching Computer-assisted Language Learning (Ken Beatty; Pearson Ed. Ltd.2003; click on the picture for details). Shows I’m on holiday, doesn’t it?

From chapter 9, “Current research interests”, here’s what I’ve selected for posting (funny to realise I now read planning to share with a potential audience of readers of my blog in mind )

• the concept of edutainment (”education + entertainment”), and the question “How do learners transfer their computer skills and enthusiasm to disciplines such as CALL?” (p. 177). It reminded me of a case I read some time ago abouta student complaining about CALL on the grounds that it meant an invasion to her “world for fun”… Had never thought teens might reject CALL for the same reasons they’re fond of computers for fun…
• The clever observation that “most studies labelled research are simply literature reviews” (p. 184). He adds that from 145 works published in ERIC analysed, “There are no entries for predicting the future of CALL; many now shy away from committing themselves to the furture of CALL as it has been so difficult to predict in the past”. Don’t count me in for such a difficult task, valuable as it is, I’m more than overwhelmed by trying to make sense of the present of computer-supported teaching, let alone predicting its future!
• 3 of Collins’ (1991) shifts in computer-based learning: “a shift from working with better students to working with weaker ones”; “a shift from assessment based on test performance to assessment based on products, progress, and effort”; and ” a shift form the primacy of verbal thinking to the integration of visual and verbal thinking” (p. 189)
• the remark that very little research has been conducted featuring children (encouraged me to read The Internet and Young Learners next).

That’s all for now!