By Wen-shuenn Wu ( 吳文舜 ) Chung Hua University

Introduction Hong Kong and South Korea have moved up four and five places, respectively, as the effects of state-of-the- art infrastructure and ambitious government plans come to fruition. South Korea (16th) is making the largest strides, spurred by an ambitious government and heavy infrastructure spending. C-learning E-learning C-learning + E-learning (Students sometimes do not have to come to class.) C-learning + E-learning as a teaching supplement

asynchronous vs. synchronous facilities (distance delivery classrooms, reception classrooms, audio-visual equipments, networking, communications system) time stress; time-consuming mini online virtual classroomMSN messenger + webcam + microphone & earphone = mini online virtual classroom

web-enhanced vs. web-based web-enhanced: Teachers still use traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms, but they also use Internet to enhance their students’ learning by presenting website materials to them. web-based: Teachers and students don’t have to go to classroom. Instead, they use Internet as an instruction platform. Interaction can be either synchronous or asynchronous.

five web-enhanced/web-based learning environments traditional classroom with LCD projector and Internet access computer lab digital language lab web-based asynchronous communication (online supplementary units) computer-mediated synchronous interaction (MSN online virtual class) designate particular dates for students to post answers download students’ log records

Traditional classroom with LCD projector and Internet access Most students in the survey still agree that a traditional classroom is still essential to their learning. A traditional classroom is still the best place for students to have a real-time interaction with teachers.

Computer lab A teacher-controlled, hardware-based broadcasting system is absolutely necessary in a computer lab. You have to control students’ monitor !!

Digital language lab Even though a teacher has adequate computer literacy, it can not guarantee that he or she can perform all the main functions of a teacher’s console in a language lab equipped with advanced and sophisticated hardware and software.

Web-based asynchronous communication One of the difficulties most e-learning facilitators will face is how to motivate learners to actively use online materials. (Chen & Xu, 2004)

Computer-mediated synchronous interaction Automatically keep a history of a user’s conversations as an XML chat log.

Some questions in the survey (1) Do you think that you are an active learner or a passive learner in terms of English learning? active Passive 26 7

Some questions in the survey (2) Which one of the following class formats do you think is most interesting? traditional classroom computer lab 8 4 digital language lab 7 web-based asynchronous communication 1 computer- mediated synchronous interaction 13

Some questions in the survey (3) Do you agree that a traditional classroom with PowerPoint slides, LCD projector, and Internet access is an effective learning environment? no opinion + disagree strongly agree + agree 27 (82%) 6 (18%)

Some questions in the survey (4) Do you agree that a digital language lab is an effective learning environment? no opinion + disagree strongly agree + agree 25 (76%) 8 (24%)

Some questions in the survey (5) Do you agree that you can learn a lot from the online supplementary units? no opinion + disagree strongly agree + agree 16 (48%) 17 (52%)

Some questions in the survey (6) Do you agree that you can learn a lot from the computer-mediated synchronous interaction? no opinion + disagree + strongly disagree strongly agree + agree 15 (45%) 18 (55%)

Limitations & Problems (1) Both online supplementary units (asynchronous) and MSN online virtual class (synchronous) need some technical support. Online supplementary units do not present enough interactive and real-time learning materials.

Limitations & Problems (2) Distance learning needs more sophisticated facilities – distance delivery classrooms, reception classrooms, audio- visual equipments, networking, communications system MSN Messenger plus microphone, earphone, and webcam can be just used in a one-to-one but not one-to-many basis.

Limitations & Problems (3) The speed of English typing Some human factors: oversleep

Conclusion (1) “…90 percent of four-year public schools and more than half of four-year private schools offer some form of online education.” (United States Distance Learning Association, reported by CNN website, August 13, 2004) Distance learning or e-learning is a growing trend in higher education field.

Conclusion (2) The move from traditional lecture hall to the cyber-classroom has not only created grave anxiety for some English experts who do have adequate computer literacy but also raised controversial questions regarding instructional effectiveness and efficiency.

Conclusion (3) An interesting and highly interactive class is not necessarily equal to an effective one. A user-friendly website with adequately interactive exercises, feedback, and design may attract more loyal repeated learners. Nevertheless, passive learners who lack motivation may still ignore the websites that are designed for them.