Effects of flipped English learning designs on learning outcomes and cognitive load: Workload of out-of-class activities versus during-class activities

Background

Some studies have researched the correlation between flipped learning and cognitive learning outcomes; however, there is a paucity of research elaborating on the effects of flipped language learning on cognitive load (CL).

Objectives

This study investigates the effects of using flipped learning designs (student-led, teacher-led and collaboration-led) on learning outcomes and CL management during out-of-class activities versus during-class activities.

Methods

A mixed methods research was used to concurrently triangulate different strands of data on the effects of flipped learning designs on English as foreign language (EFL) learners' learning outcomes and CL. A total of 122 EFL learners were randomly assigned to either the control or experimental group and participated in the study. The interpretations were made based on running one-way analysis of variance between four groups.

Results and Conclusion

This study evidenced the efficacy of the interactive use of collaboration-led flipped learning design over student-led and teacher-led designs for improving learning outcomes and lowering CL during computer-assisted language learning (CALL) course.

Pedagogically, CALL practitioners need to develop and integrate a well-organized combination of student-led and teacher-led flipped learning activities for during-class and out-of-class phases with respect to the CL and learning material complexity, while also considering the specific contexts and goals of their instructional settings. Theoretically, the results indicate the necessity of merging active learning and sociocultural theories into an instructional design to take advantage of the identified affordances of flipped language learning approach in terms of psychological effects (CL management) and learning effects (CALL outcomes).