We do need digital education

Research in the International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning suggests that a rethink is needed on how English is taught in China. The work argues that mobile and networked technologies must move from the educational margins to the centre of language instruction. The researchers explain that classroom-based teaching alone can no longer meet rising academic and professional demands for English proficiency, and that well-designed digital platforms should now be seen as an essential part of motivating students and cultivating learning habits.

At the heart of the study is an autonomous learning platform built within a mobile intelligent information system. “Autonomous learning” refers to self-directed study in which learners set their own goals, monitor progress and reflect on their performance rather than relying solely on guidance from a tutor.

The platform distinguishes itself from others by drawing on self-regulated learning, which can be described as a cyclical process involving planning, performance, and reflection. Typically discussed theoretically in education, these elements are drawn together and underpin the features of the digital platform. Learners are guided through how to set realistic goals, engage actively with course materials, and carry out their own structured self-evaluations.

Concepts such as self-efficacy, a person’s belief in their own abilities are embedded in interactive prompts and feedback loops intended to strengthen confidence and encourage persistence. While motivation, particularly the role of interest, emerges as a central theme. The study argues that cultivating curiosity and positive emotional engagement is not a superficial add-on but a psychological prerequisite for sustained attention and effective memory. By designing tasks that trigger curiosity and reward progress, the platform creates what the authors describe as an optimal mental state for language learning.

Liu, J. (2025) ‘Multi-objective construction of English online autonomous learning based on mobile intelligent information system’, Int. J. Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, Vol. 35, No. 9, pp.35–51.