Department of Applied Linguistics

Two people sitting with a laptop in front of them that they are both gesturing towards

Our Projects

21CLEO

This 4-year study sought to identify the factors that support frontline service workers to engage in workplace-sponsored learning activities that promote the development of 21st-century skills, including specific workplace skills, digital literacy, English language and literacy, problem-solving, and adult foundational skills.
 

eHealth Readiness

This ongoing project is a partnership with the Oregon WIC program which offers supplemental nutrition, education, breastfeeding support, and lactation consultant services to low-income women and children in Oregon. The research project seeks to describe Oregon WIC participants' and staffs' readiness to use telehealth for WIC services.
 

503 Design Collective

An ongoing research team interested in social interaction around mobile digital technology. With support from a Portland State University Provosts' Challenge Grant (Steve Thorne, PI), the collective developed and implemented an augmented reality game called ChronoOps ('Chronological Operations' due to the time travel conceit that structures the game narrative). 

Advancing Digital Equity
in Public Libraries

This mixed-methods, 3-year research project was conducted in collaboration with the Multnomah County Library (MCL) in Portland, Oregon. Results indicated that library website use was a strong predictor of problem-solving in technology-rich environment scores and that digital problem solving needs to be seen as a set of contexts and events that are dynamic across different situations. 

Tutor Ready Reading
& Tutor Ready Writing

To address the national dearth of materials for literacy tutors who are working with adult learners, this 6-year project produced two websites and accompanying illustrative videos organized around tutor questions. The project was a collaboration between subject matter experts/national trainers from Portland State University, Kent State University, Sacramento Public Library, Alameda Reads, and private practice. 

On-Ramps to
E-Health Portals

This 1-year study aimed to understand barriers to patient portal use by patients in a safety net clinic. The project included evaluating patients' use of the clinic patient portal, developing online learning materials to patients learn how to use them, and implementing the materials in the clinic setting. The study was a partnership between the Wallace Medical Concern and LLTR and was funded by a grant from the Legacy Community Health Fund. 

reTHINK PSU: #155 Mobile
& AR Resources for Learning

From 2013-2015, using augmented reality to create an interactive role-playing scenario, this project facilitated language learning for a group of software developers across six different language backgrounds. The language learners worked in groups of three to problem-solve as they moved throughout the campus grounds and beyond. Augmented reality coupled with the story of the game allowed for an immersive language learning experience. 

Tutor-Facilitated Digital
Literacy Acquisition 

This research effort focused on examining the digital literacy acquisition process among vulnerable adult learners who participated in digital literacy programming offered through partnerships in the Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant entitled "Learner Web Partnership: A Multi-State Support System for Broadband Adoption by Vulnerable Adults." That grant was focused on addressing the barriers to broadband use in vulnerable and digitally excluded populations. 
 

Longitudinal Study
of Adult Learning

The Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning project worked to understand the challenges adult learners face when working toward their educational goals so that programs and resources may be tailored to better suit an adult learner's needs. As a part of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy (NCSALL), the Longitudinal Study of Adult Learning ran from 1998 to 2007 here at Portland State University.
 

National Labsite for
Adult ESOL

The Lab School is a national state-of-the-art research center engaged in classroom-based research and professional development focusing on English as a Second Language.  The Lab School was designed to strengthen programs serving adult ESOL learners across the country through systematic research and experimentation within the context of an existing ESL program. Since 2005, the Lab School has recorded courses from Portland State's Intensive English Language Program and Russian Language Flagship Program

ELL-U Clubs (English
Language Learner University)

This project used PSU-developed Learner Web, a learner-focused learning support system to present accessible, multimedia information for teachers and tutors about Working with Emergent Readers and Teaching Vocabulary to Adult English Language Learners

Learner Web: Digital
Learner Support System

Learner Web: Digital Learner Support System (2003-2021) helped adults target unique learning objectives such as job preparedness, basic skills, and improving digital literacy. Learner Web allowed learners to reach their goals through self-paced instruction, usually through both online learning and face-to-face instruction with a tutor or teacher. By the end of the 18-year program, 172 sites were able to offer such learning opportunities. 

Impact of Participation Project

2012-2014

Prior Learning and Adult Language Learning 

2007-2008

Next Generation
Learning Challenges

2011-2012