Community college students who used the app Voxy had more proficiency gains in the English language than their peers in the same group who used a different software.
That’s the findings of a new study conducted by American Institutes for Research (AIR).
The study, conducted at Miami Dade College, was created to analyze the impact of the Voxy app’s language learning software, which utilizes machine learning to personalize material and adapt online teaching for English language learners.
“This research provides much-needed analyses concerning the efficacy of language learning technology and gives us hope that, with the right tools and support, more ELLs can succeed in college and their careers,” said Dr. Katie Nielson, chief education officer of Voxy. “If Voxy can drive a 15 percent increase in language assessment scores in one college semester, imagine the impact it could have in four years.”
Because of the increase in English language learners in higher education, institutions often find it difficult to give effective, personalized teaching to this group of people, which could include refugees, immigrants or international students.
The number of international students attending a U.S. college increased from 1990 to 2014, and increased to almost 1.1 million students during the 2017-18 school year, the release said.
The study sampled 317 students enrolled in Miami Dade’s language labs. Ninety-eight percent identified as Latino and Spanish speakers and 93 percent received federal financial aid through Pell Grants.
