iSpring Suite: An Innovative E-Learning Tool for Language Education

Abstract

The shift toward digital learning accelerated by unexpected circumstances (e.g., pandemic) has increased the demand for e-learning tools in modern education. The manifold challenges (e.g., learner engagement and inclusive online experience) educators and institutions face in digital education have heightened the need for incorporating such tools into various education contexts, including language education. To this end, this review seeks to evaluate iSpring Suite, an extensive e-learning authoring toolkit for creating interactive and multimodal educational content. Despite specific studies on iSpring Suite, there is a lack of research that examines its main features, potential pedagogical affordances, and technical/instructional limitations. Accordingly, this review intends to bridge this literature gap. This review uses a theoretical framework to reveal that iSpring Suite contains several pedagogical opportunities, including interactive learning, multimodal learning, immediate assessment/feedback, blended learning, flexibility, and customizability. However, the software has some downsides, such as limited student collaboration, labor-intensive nature, restricted content creativity, evaluative constraint, and technical difficulty and complexity. For that reason, qualitative and quantitative studies are urged in diverse language education contexts to corroborate the review’s findings.

Keywords: Authoring tool; educational technology; educational software; e-learning; iSpring