1 THE ITALIAN AIR FORCE E-LEARNING PROGRAM Copenhagen Presentation October 2009 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL S.L.E.

2 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL OVERVIEW 1. ITAF E-learning Language Acquisition Pathway. 2. Targeted Language Levels. 3. Course Information & Objectives. 4. E-Learning and JFLT Objectives. 5. E-Learning and JFLT Results. 6. The ITAF LMS, Architecture & Student Orientation. 7. The Virtual Classroom (Live Meeting Demo). 8. E- Learning - Our Experience. 9. Future Implementations. (Blended Learning) 10. Q&A.

E-learning English Language Acquistition Pathway 3 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL

4 E-LEARNING TARGETED LANGUAGE LEVELS Starters / Beginners. Elementary. Pre-Intermediate.

5 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL Course Information & Objectives Students are required to complete a total of 160 hours during the course which includes off-line studies also. All students are given a DVD of course materials to study at home. Didactic materials include multimedia Military English courses and grammar exercises. The course is synchronized with virtual classroom teaching. Each course has a course and support teacher assigned to it - (a teaching team) to maximise teaching coverage. All course teachers are native English speakers and qualified to teach. Course numbers do not exceed 20. Students are divided into four groups of 5 allowing for small class sizes. A mid course examination is done online that evaluates student progress. Students must pass the final course examination at the the military school to qualify for a JFLT assessment.

6 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL JFLT Objectives (E-learning) SLPListeningSpeakingReadingWriting Starters /Beginners1010 Elementary1111 Pre-Intermediate Taking into consideration the e-learning formula that we use, conservative targets have been set. That said, we do have a small percentage of students achieving a threshold SLP at level 2.

7 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL Consolidated JFLT Results Intensive “in school” & E-learning Courses * Data available to date

8 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL Results Data Table Proficiency Testing JFLT (available data) Level 0 / N.Q. 5.48% (17) 7.88% (32) 3,33 % (11) Level % (55) 17,24% (70) 21,21% (70) Level % (195) 61,82% (251) 61,81% (285) Number Tested

9 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL Data Summary We have noted a significant drop in non qualified personnel. We have noted a net increase in JFLT Level 1 qualifications. We have noted a constant result for JFLT Level 2 qualifications. Conclusion: The introduction of e-learning as a means of language acquistion was a relatively smooth one for us and did not impact negatively on JFLT results as a whole. In fact, we have seen a 45% increase of air force personnel qualified with an SLP rating at level 1 (the majority) and in some cases at level 2. E-learning in the ITAF has opened the door for Italian military personnel who do not get accepted into the school for an intensive English language course. They can now follow a structured e- learning pathway that concludes with an SLP rating.

10 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL The SLEAM E-Learning Platform MOODLE ver (Open Source) Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment

11 SLEAM SITE MAP ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL SLEAM E-learning Platform Learning Resources language skills maitenance (public) English Courses (Enrolment) French Pilot program Course Simulation Student Orientation (public) Coordinator’s Zone (Course monitoring) ( Teacher Training & resources) Teacher’s Zone Virtual Classroom Microsoft Live Meeting Teacher Training Microsoft Live Meeting LINK

ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL 12 Student Orientation : is currently done “in house” for a period of three days allowing students to familiarise themselves with the course interface and platform. Orientation is done using a course simulation. This concludes with knowledge based assessment quizzes. The Moodle platform enables us to track student progress using its quizzes, scorm based learning activities and course gradebook. Platform activities are mainly focused on listening, reading and writing skills. Speaking is done in the virtual classroom and can be set as an mp3 exercise on the platform. The platform provides a high degree of flexibilty allowing students to review and practice 24 / 7. Platform Summary

13 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL The Virtual Classroom

14 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL The Virtual Classroom (link) (link) Microsoft Live Meeting - Video Conferencing Voip Audio Quality Uploads a large range of multimedia format types. An electronic whiteboard. Standard and interactive PDF Forms. (Print to PDF function) Recording Lessons Loading Flash objects and playback functions. Audio & Video formats. Linking to web pages Desk top sharing / uploading & downloading of VC lesson materials. Features & Functions

15 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL E-learning: Our Experience: Our experience after nearly two years of e-learning: Platformed Based Issues: The course user interface needs to be “user friendly”, intuitive, easy to navigate and standardized for multiple courses. User browser types plug - ins and settings need to be compatible for the correct delivery of platform media. Use of automated platform feedback for students needs to be maximised. Providing public domains that allow students to access the platform for extra curricula studies and platform familiarisation.

16 ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL E-learning: Our Experience: Virtual Classroom Issues: Audio quality and consistency is a key factor when conducting productive virtual classroom lessons. Choice of conferencing software is paramount to a successful synchronous (virtual classroom) e-learning program. Technical aspects like internet connection speed, proxy servers, browser and firewall settings need to be overcome for correct use of MS Live Meeting. Cross browser compatibility must also be resolved. Our Solutions : Creating designated E-learning terminals for personnel with unfiltered ports in all Italian air bases. To counter protected networks we suggest internet USB pen drives on WiFi connections..

17 Plans are being made to do student orientation entirely on the platform. This will be done using video and visual screenshots. Student oral assessments will be done in the virtual classroom. A solution is currently being proposed to create a blended e–learning course which would require students to come to the school for scheduled periods of “in class” teaching and completion of their examinations. Integration scorm compliant language courses on the platform for comprehensive grade tracking and analysis on student progress. To extend the number of virtual classroom session with teachers. In classroom connections to the platform giving intensive course students access to e-learning activites in the learning resources domain. ISO 9001 accreditation. ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL Future Implementations & Goals

18 Q&A Session Now is your opportunity to ask me questions about our e-learning project. ITAF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SCHOOL