Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) are present in all educational modalities and levels, but their adoption in primary education remains limited. This article evaluates the acceptance of MundoCRA, a VLE that enriches traditional classrooms through a virtual world where students perform educational tasks in an engaging way. Gamified activities with rewards, points, and certificates promote motivation through quizzes, challenges, and collaborative projects. MundoCRA also includes a management module that allows teachers to create and monitor tasks easily. The evaluation, based on an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), considers constructs such as perceived enjoyment, satisfaction, and gender differences. A survey of 20 teachers and 30 students from the Rural Grouped School (CRA) Sierra de Alcaraz (Spain) revealed that MundoCRA increased motivation, satisfaction, and enjoyment. Furthermore, structural equation modeling showed that perceived enjoyment and ease of use significantly influenced positive attitudes toward the platform, explaining over 70% of the variance in user attitudes.

Abstract Globalization has increased the need for society to master new languages. This need has encouraged the launch of many applications dedicated to language learning. This paper presents a graphical notation for a domain specific language to represent language learning activities. It describes how this notation enables developers to represent language learning activity characteristics using workflow, presentation, content, media and activity model conforming a metamodel that defines the abstract syntax of the domain specific language. This notation is implemented as part of an integrated development environment to build model-based applications. Finally, this proposal is evaluated with a framework that uses the cognitive dimensions of notations for notational systems. The proposed graphic diagram editor exceeds the experience that the user has with the reflexive model editor. In relation to the creation and editing of workflow models and presentation/activity models, the proposed graphical notation its more intuitive and easy to maintain visually than the traditional reflexive tree notation used by many model-based development frameworks.

Traditional user interfaces are evolving toward “distributed” user interfaces according to the new technological advances, allowing one or more interaction elements distributed among many different platforms in order to support interaction with one or more users. In this new scenario, the Abstract User Interface (AUI) model has been reviewed and modified to include specific characteristics from the Distributed User Interface (DUI) point of view. This article proposes a new AUI that takes into account the possibility of distribution. Before presenting this new AUI model, the article introduces the definition of the DUI concept and its foundations using a formal notation. Together with the new AUI model, a double hierarchy of user interfaces and targets has been defined, so the type of distribution can be verified using the concept of finality introduced as an algorithm in this article. With this new algorithm it is possible to test whether a given DUI (multiple devices, multiple user interfaces) supports the user's goal in the system.