Pixel International Conferences

The widespread use of technology has reshaped the field of language teaching and has transformed the learning experience for language learners. The implementation of multimedia tools has nurtured opportunities for more student-centred, real-world-like learning environments where students can become more autonomous and collaborate with their peers. Pedagogically, the collaborative nature of these tools is founded under the social constructivist theory according to which learning takes place through social interactions and language use, and knowledge is shared and becomes more meaningful. The multimedia tool involved in the present study is Deviant Art, an international online community for art enthusiasts, featuring artwork, photography and videography. Within this social community, artists can connect through their art, share their work, engage in constructive feedback and keep their own journal about their work. The present pilot study focuses on the evaluation of Deviant Art as an educational tool, as it was used in the course English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) in the Fall Semester of 2019, at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). The evaluation was based on the experience of 11 first-year students of the Department of Fine Arts. The aim of the paper was to investigate students’ perceptions on a) Deviant Art as an educational tool for creating collaborative learning opportunities and b) their experience with the tool through the duration of the semester. Data was collected through the students’ reflection journals and through an online questionnaire, completed by the students at the end of the semester. 

Keywords: Deviant Art, ICT, collaborative learning, ESAP.

References

• Resta, P., & Laferrière, T. (2007). Technology in support of collaborative learning. Educational Psychology Review, 19(1), 65-83.
• Freitas, M. (2009). DeviantArt: where art meets application!. Madeira, University of Madeira.