A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task

Abstract This study investigates the impact of using the Pebasco app, a mobile microlearning tool, to train peer feedback skills within a mandatory university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course employing a communicative language teaching (CLT) approach. Building on previous research, this st...

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Main Authors: Tom Gorham, Rwitajit Majumdar, Hiroaki Ogata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Smart Learning Environments
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00387-0
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author Tom Gorham
Rwitajit Majumdar
Hiroaki Ogata
author_facet Tom Gorham
Rwitajit Majumdar
Hiroaki Ogata
author_sort Tom Gorham
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study investigates the impact of using the Pebasco app, a mobile microlearning tool, to train peer feedback skills within a mandatory university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course employing a communicative language teaching (CLT) approach. Building on previous research, this study aims to assess how the app influences students' ability to transfer peer feedback training to a constructive CLT speaking activity. Utilizing a quasi-experimental pre-/post- design with 89 participants (n = 89), data were collected through the Pebasco app, Flipgrid videos, and end-of-class surveys. Key findings indicate that students who engaged with Pebasco reported significant self-perceived improvements in both peer and internal feedback skills. Notably, students with initially lower performance on the constructive CLT speaking activity showed substantial progress, achieving parity with their initially higher-performing peers, suggesting the app's effectiveness in bridging performance gaps. This research underscores the potential of mobile microlearning apps to enhance peer feedback skills and promote the transfer of learning to related communicative tasks, providing valuable insights for language education.
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spelling doaj-art-b6e9dacb6adc4401994f0ce86b09e2392025-08-20T02:38:32ZengSpringerOpenSmart Learning Environments2196-70912025-05-0112112310.1186/s40561-025-00387-0A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking taskTom Gorham0Rwitajit Majumdar1Hiroaki Ogata2Faculty of Letters, Rissho UniversityGraduate School of Social and Cultural Sciences, Kumamoto UniversityGraduate School of Informatics, Kyoto UniversityAbstract This study investigates the impact of using the Pebasco app, a mobile microlearning tool, to train peer feedback skills within a mandatory university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course employing a communicative language teaching (CLT) approach. Building on previous research, this study aims to assess how the app influences students' ability to transfer peer feedback training to a constructive CLT speaking activity. Utilizing a quasi-experimental pre-/post- design with 89 participants (n = 89), data were collected through the Pebasco app, Flipgrid videos, and end-of-class surveys. Key findings indicate that students who engaged with Pebasco reported significant self-perceived improvements in both peer and internal feedback skills. Notably, students with initially lower performance on the constructive CLT speaking activity showed substantial progress, achieving parity with their initially higher-performing peers, suggesting the app's effectiveness in bridging performance gaps. This research underscores the potential of mobile microlearning apps to enhance peer feedback skills and promote the transfer of learning to related communicative tasks, providing valuable insights for language education.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00387-0Peer feedback trainingInternal feedbackTransfer of learningCommunicative language teachingMobile microlearningLearning analytics
spellingShingle Tom Gorham
Rwitajit Majumdar
Hiroaki Ogata
A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task
Smart Learning Environments
Peer feedback training
Internal feedback
Transfer of learning
Communicative language teaching
Mobile microlearning
Learning analytics
title A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task
title_full A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task
title_fullStr A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task
title_full_unstemmed A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task
title_short A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task
title_sort microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self confidence during an efl speaking task
topic Peer feedback training
Internal feedback
Transfer of learning
Communicative language teaching
Mobile microlearning
Learning analytics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00387-0
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