Abstract
In the digital age, using computer technologies for learning and teaching has become a trend, for instance, classroom interactive system (CIS). And yet, there is no appropriate design of CIS meets instructors’ and learners’ needs. In this study, the researcher designed a learner-centered CIS called I3 (Immediate Interaction with Instructor) with rewarding mechanism and ranking list to increase learners’ motivation, and enhance the learners’ learning interest and engagement. Learner’s own mobile phones were taken as the learning tools instead of using specific equipments equipped with traditional CIS. The features of I3 system are described as follows: (1) It can be operated on different mobile devices, (2) enhance learners’ motivations and engagement in class by integrating rewarding mechanism and ranking list, (3) enhance learners’ autonomies on their interaction, (4) reduce the interruption caused by immediate interaction with instructors, and (5) help instructors to improve the teaching quality. In order to understand the effects of using the I3 system. The 33 students who attended a general knowledge course in a college participated in the experiment. The duration of experiment is one semester, from February 2011 to June 2011. Consequently, the research findings show that: (1) Integrating rewarding mechanism and ranking list can enhance learners’ learning motivation and engagements. The 45% of learners had outstanding performance. (2) Increasing learners’ understandings and attention. The 79% of learners concentrated more in class. Learners’ autonomies were enhanced significantly. (3) There were differences in learning motivation and learning effects between different grades. The performance of freshmen with lower-tech devices were much poor than others. Finally, the researcher indicated some suggestions for the design of future CIS.