Touch the page and mimic me: Evaluation of a talking-pen learning tool

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the talking-pen device called the Mimic Me, an educational technology product of a large English conversation school in Japan, as an educational learning tool. The product will be reviewed in terms of its developmental appropriateness for the target audience based on current research. Although the Mimic Me uses behaviorist learning theories to teach vocabulary and short phrases, it could be further enhanced to live up to its full potential as a learning tool. The author proposes alternative ways that the product could be used, as well as possible design modifications that would improve the effectiveness of the product.