COOL or not COOL? Learning an Asian language online in the context of communities of learning

Abstract

The Education (Update) Amendment Act 2017, which came into effect on 19th May, allows for the establishment of Communities of Online Learning or COOLs. The Virtual Learning Network Primary School (VLNP) is one organisation that is in a position to make the most of the COOL initiative. In 2015, VLNP secured funding through the Ministry of Education's Asian Language Learning in Schools (ALLiS) project to enhance its current work in delivering effective Asian language courses online. This article documents the findings of a small-scale exploratory investigation into the effectiveness of this ALLiS-funded initiative. The investigation drew on surveys, focus groups with students and interviews with teachers as key stakeholders. On the positive side, it was found that, overall, Asian language learning online is perceived as useful, beneficial, and motivating. Issues that warrant further investigation emerge around technological challenges, limited time for online interactions, and limited infrastructure to support students outside the online environment.