WeCWI: The Sixth Keynote

Dr Mah's sixth keynote address entitled WeCWI: Integrating CMC, E-learning Interaction-based Model, and Interactionism towards Language Development was delivered in the 12th International Conference on Language, Education & Innovation 2018 (ICLEI 2018) on 17-18 December 2018 at Impiana KLCC Hotel, 13, Jalan Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The abstract of the keynote is shown as follows:

Web-based Cognitive Writing Instruction (WeCWI) was formulated by Dr Mah Boon Yih in 2014 based on his doctoral study in response to the global impact of using the internet in English language teaching (ELT), limitations of the learning management system (LMS) in fostering second language (L2) learning, as well as needs of supplementary web-based instruction (WBI) due to the positive outcomes. WeCWI is an e-framework grounded on the theoretical-and-pedagogical principles of language acquisition, composition studies, cognitive theories, and e-learning to promote literacy, language, cognitive, and psychological developments. Since creating a web-based instructional platform has been recognised as one of the 21st century digital skills for educators, Dr Mah keeps inspiring the educators to develop and design their preferred WBI as an alternative of LMS. According to Dr Mah, WBI is referred as a delivery mode of transferring the knowledge via an adaptive technology enabler tool towards personalised learning. By conducting qualitative systematic review of literature on the integration of Computer-mediated Communication (CMC), e-learning interaction-based model, and interactionism to become a hybrid framework, this study intents to tackle the poor writing skill among the L2 learners including interlanguage errors and low language proficiency. The modes and patterns of interactions emphasised in WeCWI can be described seamlessly based on CMC and Anderson’s e-learning interaction-based model, which aims to create a powerful human interactions platform in web-based environment that allows asynchronous and synchronous communications happened between a learner and the instructional content, between the two learners, between a learner or a group of learners and an instructor, between an instructor and the instructional content, as well as between an instructor and a learner or a group of learners. The questions and answers generated during the process of discussion will create a rich interactive environment consisting of input, negotiation, output, and interactional feedback that associate closely with the interactionist model. To sum up, the integration of CMC, e-learning interaction-based model, and interactionism in WeCWI empowers WBI towards language development.