EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 1

2 Creating, Developing and Sustaining a Computer-Based Language Learning Environment John Gillespie & David Barr School of Languages and Literature University of Ulster

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 3 Key Questions Is it possible?Is it possible? Is it desirable?Is it desirable? What would such an environment be like?What would such an environment be like? Is it just about doing the same old thing with computer bells and whistles?Is it just about doing the same old thing with computer bells and whistles? Is it the same for all academic subjects or are languages different?Is it the same for all academic subjects or are languages different? Does the environment depend on the institution?Does the environment depend on the institution?

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 4 What is a Learning Environment? Physical ResourcesPhysical Resources Technological ResourcesTechnological Resources Human ResourcesHuman Resources Information processing, management and transmissionInformation processing, management and transmission Cultural contextCultural context Pedagogical planningPedagogical planning CommunicationCommunication GumptionGumption

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 5 What is a Computer-Based Learning Environment? Computer technology used to enhance the learning and teaching experience in the following ways:Computer technology used to enhance the learning and teaching experience in the following ways: –To enable efficient communication –To facilitate flexible information management & processing –To access electronic learning resources (reference material & CALL) –To enhance traditional pedagogical methods

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 6 Case Studies Cambridge, Toronto and Ulster

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 7 Physical & Technological Resources (Cambridge) CALL Facility, equipped with software for 12 languages.CALL Facility, equipped with software for 12 languages. CALL resources made available via University network, allowing student access from collegesCALL resources made available via University network, allowing student access from colleges Web-based material is limitedWeb-based material is limited CALL website, with web gateway for 9 languagesCALL website, with web gateway for 9 languages

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 8 Physical & Technological Resources (Toronto) 6 Multimedia labs on 2 campuses, with 130 computers. Access restricted6 Multimedia labs on 2 campuses, with 130 computers. Access restricted Limited local CALL packagesLimited local CALL packages Preference for web-based material. Flexibility of Web access. Links from course websites to a range of TL resources eg: Banks of news clips from Radio Canada and on-line grammar exercisesPreference for web-based material. Flexibility of Web access. Links from course websites to a range of TL resources eg: Banks of news clips from Radio Canada and on-line grammar exercises

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 9 Physical & Technological Resources (Ulster) Extensive general purpose computer labsExtensive general purpose computer labs CALL labs have just been installedCALL labs have just been installed Limited use of CALL softwareLimited use of CALL software Developments in web-based resources, through FirstClass and WebCTDevelopments in web-based resources, through FirstClass and WebCT Web gateway for French/German/Spanish/IrishWeb gateway for French/German/Spanish/Irish

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 10 Human Resources (Cambridge) CALL Officer to maintain CALL Facility/support academic staffCALL Officer to maintain CALL Facility/support academic staff Insufficient faculty staff to meet the demandInsufficient faculty staff to meet the demand Staff Resources not co-ordinated Staff Resources not co-ordinated

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 11 Human Resources (Toronto) Director of Multimedia LabsDirector of Multimedia Labs Webmasters for course websitesWebmasters for course websites Support from CHASS techniciansSupport from CHASS technicians Students paid to digitise/assist in preparation of coursewareStudents paid to digitise/assist in preparation of courseware Robarts Library provides suite of web publishing facilities and staff trainingRobarts Library provides suite of web publishing facilities and staff training

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 12 Human Resources (Ulster) No dedicated staff to prepare course materialNo dedicated staff to prepare course material Limited number of graduate students involved in developing materialLimited number of graduate students involved in developing material Staff from Institute of Lifelong Learning to assist staff with transfer of lecture notes etc to Campus One (University’s on-line learning environment)Staff from Institute of Lifelong Learning to assist staff with transfer of lecture notes etc to Campus One (University’s on-line learning environment) Limited Web publishing rights restrict ability to post material on WebLimited Web publishing rights restrict ability to post material on Web

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 13 Communication (Cambridge) Staff and students spread across the city in colleges: used for staff-student communicationStaff and students spread across the city in colleges: used for staff-student communication Many students have access to in the college bedroomsMany students have access to in the college bedrooms Students advised to consult their at least twice a dayStudents advised to consult their at least twice a day

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 14 Communication (Toronto) Students and staff spread over a wide area: course websites used for bulk of staff-student communicationStudents and staff spread over a wide area: course websites used for bulk of staff-student communication Students tend not to live in college, but have good access to Internet at home/term-time accommodationStudents tend not to live in college, but have good access to Internet at home/term-time accommodation Limited use of Limited use of

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 15 Communication (Ulster) Significant number of students commute from home each day; others off-campus in private accommodationSignificant number of students commute from home each day; others off-campus in private accommodation Internet access problematic in most term-time accommodationInternet access problematic in most term-time accommodation is not used systematically for communication is not used systematically for communication FirstClass is used for communicationFirstClass is used for communication

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 16 Pedagogical Approaches (Cambridge) CALL Facility underused for class work.CALL Facility underused for class work. – 38% of staff teach in it (N=42). –Used sporadically e.g. some classes take place there once or twice a year. Limited weekly bookings for lab Emphasis on use for self-study e.g. listening comprehensions/CALL software for exam revisionEmphasis on use for self-study e.g. listening comprehensions/CALL software for exam revision Spanish video comprehension activities now on Web, replacing need to do them in classSpanish video comprehension activities now on Web, replacing need to do them in class Web notes and material used to support Spanish and Russian classes.Web notes and material used to support Spanish and Russian classes.

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 17 Pedagogical Approaches (Toronto) Multimedia labs used regularly for teachingMultimedia labs used regularly for teaching –Used by 77% of staff (N=13) –Labs are overbooked each week. Led to creation of two new labs on St George campus Students required to use labs for self-study. Coursework marks awarded for thisStudents required to use labs for self-study. Coursework marks awarded for this Web-based modules in French require use of Web to complete assignments. Have replaced class contact time in some of these classesWeb-based modules in French require use of Web to complete assignments. Have replaced class contact time in some of these classes Course websites provide support material for classes e.g. notes and articles to be readCourse websites provide support material for classes e.g. notes and articles to be read

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 18 Pedagogical Approaches (Ulster) CALL used by small number of staff for teachingCALL used by small number of staff for teaching Use of FirstClass to support class activity e.g. notes, grammar tips and assessment feedbackUse of FirstClass to support class activity e.g. notes, grammar tips and assessment feedback –90% of staff (N=10) used it to send lecture notes to students Students encouraged to use Web to research essays e.g. provision of URLs in module reading listsStudents encouraged to use Web to research essays e.g. provision of URLs in module reading lists WebCT grammar exercises for self-studyWebCT grammar exercises for self-study

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 19 Interaction (Cambridge) Faculty resources available through Network Facility, giving flexibility of accessFaculty resources available through Network Facility, giving flexibility of access Resources not as easy to access as Language Centre material (available on a Web interface)Resources not as easy to access as Language Centre material (available on a Web interface) Staff-student communication separate to access to resourcesStaff-student communication separate to access to resources Little sign of an infrastructure in which all aspects can be linked togetherLittle sign of an infrastructure in which all aspects can be linked together

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 20 Interaction (Toronto) Provision of Web-based material, increases flexibility of accessProvision of Web-based material, increases flexibility of access Course websites used for staff-student communication and linking electronic resourcesCourse websites used for staff-student communication and linking electronic resources –In two programmes of study, students can submit coursework from course website Web is there used to link together above componentsWeb is there used to link together above components

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 21 Interaction (Ulster) Use of FirstClass to facilitate staff-student communication and access some resourcesUse of FirstClass to facilitate staff-student communication and access some resources –Used in some French/Spanish classes to submit coursework Establishment of Campus One (using WebCT) to link these components in a more secure environment than openly available on Web (like at U of T)Establishment of Campus One (using WebCT) to link these components in a more secure environment than openly available on Web (like at U of T)

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 22 EVALUATION Key Issues in Creating Language Learning Environments

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 23 What’s So Special About Languages and Computers? CommunicationCommunication ManipulationManipulation TransformationTransformation Multiple modes of activity - different skillsMultiple modes of activity - different skills MultimediaMultimedia Internationalisation (Web; Video; E- mail;TV/Radio)Internationalisation (Web; Video; E- mail;TV/Radio)

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 24 VAT: Value Added Teaching Learning Environments are complexLearning Environments are complex Computer-Based Language-Learning Environments are particularly complexComputer-Based Language-Learning Environments are particularly complex The rewards and potential far outweigh the challenges of establishing themThe rewards and potential far outweigh the challenges of establishing them

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 25 VAT: Enhancement Reactions of staffReactions of staff Reactions of studentsReactions of students Enhanced performance in project workEnhanced performance in project work Diagnostic testsDiagnostic tests

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 26 Getting It All Together The key to the environment is integration with all teaching and learning activitiesThe key to the environment is integration with all teaching and learning activities The whole University environment should be computer-basedThe whole University environment should be computer-based It requires top-level management supportIt requires top-level management support The environment requires critical mass of both student/staff participationThe environment requires critical mass of both student/staff participation It should be a self-transforming systemIt should be a self-transforming system

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 27 Obstacles Incomplete or inadequate equipmentIncomplete or inadequate equipment Untrained, uninvolved or uninformed staffUntrained, uninvolved or uninformed staff Lack of pedagogical understanding and cultureLack of pedagogical understanding and culture Lack of human resources - support and technical staffLack of human resources - support and technical staff Time required for preparation of new materialsTime required for preparation of new materials Lack of management co-ordinationLack of management co-ordination Lack of overall visionLack of overall vision

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 28 Prospects for the Future: We Shall Overcome Technical capacity is thereTechnical capacity is there Software resources are adequateSoftware resources are adequate Students are supportiveStudents are supportive Staff do not oppose itStaff do not oppose it Senior Managements are keenSenior Managements are keen

EUROCALL 2002: Jyväskylä 29