A study of a multimedia web annotation system and its effect on the EFL writing and speaking performance of junior high school students

The aim of this study was to improve students' English as Foreign Language (EFL) writing and speaking performance with appropriate learning activity design supported by Virtual Pen (VPen), a multimedia web annotation system. Students' perceptions toward using VPen and learningactivities, attitude toward using VPen, actual VPen usage and their relationships were also investigated. After the experiment the students perceived that VPen was easy to use and useful during learning activities, and generally had a positive attitude toward using VPen. Furthermore, the students believed that learning activities were 'playful' and useful for improving writing and speaking performance. Further investigation revealed that the students' actual VPen usage had a significant correlation with speaking and writing performance and that students' speaking and writing performance significantly correlated with learning achievement. Based on our findings, we conclude that designed learning activities supported by the VPen system could facilitate students' writing and speaking performance and therefore improve their learning achievement.