MATT: A Mobile Assisted Tense Tool for Flexible m-Grammar Learning Based on Cloud-Fog-Edge Collaborative Networking

Abstract

The proliferation of modern mobile technologies on grammar learning (i.e., m-grammar learning) has generated a multitude of challenges in developing effective pedagogically-informed learning tools. The existing systems have mostly suffered from low motivation and poor learning effectiveness because of the three key reasons, namely: i) a weak tie to motivational theoretical principles, ii) a lack of proper instructional design, and iii) a lack of proper infrastructural design for data sharing between students and instructors. To deal with this issue, this paper presents MATT: a Mobile-Assisted Tense Tool that encapsulates an m-grammar instructional design leveraging upon cloud-fog-edge collaborative networking. Central to MATT is the incorporation of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning principles to minimize the extraneous cognitive load and a motivational model to increase motivation and learning effectiveness. To ensure effective instructional design, we exploit adaptive and dynamic approaches embodied in a flexible instructional paradigm that takes advantage of collective learning data exchange across cloud (central unit), fog (regional units) and edge (end devices/learners). To demonstrate the overall effectiveness of this system, we describe our findings in the evaluation of both the learning aspect (using a quantitative research design) and collaborative network performance (using numerical simulation). With an appropriate condition of delay-tolerant network-enabled learning data exchange, the results suggest that the students' cognitive load is low and motivational nature is high after using this system, which led them to perform more positively in the post-test evaluation.

Keywords

• Cloud-fog-edge collaboration
• cognitive load
• collaborative interaction
• cooperative networks
• e-learning
• m-grammar learning