1. My Latin Lab::: Towards a Paperless Latin Course
Tom Sienkewicz
CAMWS 2012
Earlier this month the Encyclopoedia Britannica announced that it would no longer publish print versions of that well-known reference resource. The paperless encyclopoedia is already a reality . While we still think in terms of paper-based elementary Latin textbooks, our students are members of an electronic generation which is becoming more and more comfortable with on-line access to information and learning resources. Whether we like it or not, Latin textbooks will inevitably follow the example of the Encyclopoedia Britannica and abandon print entirely. Indeed, that day is not far off. The paperless Latin course is just around the corner if it is not here already.

2. When Ken Kitchell and I began working on our Latin textbook, Disce
When Ken Kitchell and I began working on our Latin textbook, Disce!, we were still thinking in terms of a traditional paper-based text. Our editor, Rachel McCoy of Pearson Publishers, persuaded us to undertake this project with a vision of a multi-color and profusely-illustrated Latin textbook modeled on the attractive books used by our modern language colleagues, such as Chez Nous for French and Arriba for Spanish. To our editor’s vision, we ourselves added the possibility of combining the best features of both a reading-based course like Oxford or Ecce Romani and a traditional grammar-based course like Wheelock.

3. Disce! on Paper
When it was finally published last year, Disce! appeared as a two-volume paperback Latin course, accompanied by a paper-based exercise book called the Student Activities Manual, or SAM for short, as well as an Answer key for SAM. All still pretty traditional.

4. Other Resources Paper
Other resources, a bit less traditional, are audio CD’s with recordings of all the readings and vocabulary found in the textbook.

5. Other Resources
As well as downloadable and editable testing programs which can be customized by the instructor to meet the particular pedagogical needs and goals.

6. A downloadable and editable Instructor‘s Resource Manual (or IRM for short) with a rich variety of other teaching materials is also available free of charge on the Pearson website.

7. As illustrated in this table of contents, this IRM contains a teaching guide, sample syllabi, lesson plans, information and teaching aids for Ipsi Romani, the passages of authentic Latin used in Disce!

8. The IRM also includes editable copies of the readings, information and teaching suggestions for all the images in Disce!, lists of the Verba Discenda, English derivatives, word form charts for student practice.

9. e
The Legenda is a bibliography of resources on the Latin language and Roman culture)
There is also an index of all the maps and plans in Disce! as well as Ipsissima Verba, a transitional reader based on authentic Latin used in the textbook.
But Disce! has turned out to be much more than these text and audio resources because all of this material, and much more, is available in electronic and paperless form on line.

10. For a number of years, teachers of modern foreign languages using printed textbooks like Chez Nous and Arriba, published by Pearson Publishers have had access to a series of on-line teaching resources called MyFrenchLab, MySpanishLab, MyItalianLab, etc.

11. With the publication of Disce
With the publication of Disce! a similar program has been introduced for elementary Latin teachers.
MyLatinLab provides important new on-line pedagogical resources which can be used as part of classroom activities or as a supplement to classroom learning. This electronic laboratory is designed to meet the needs of both students and instructors and to make teaching and learning more effective by combining what is best in the traditional printed textbook with innovative on-line activities and resources, including self-assessment, personalized study paths, customized teaching resources, and powerful results reporting. Like its modern foreign language counterparts, MyLatinLab makes available electronically all the components of a traditional print-version language course along with electronic features that no print-version text currently can offer.
In my remaining time, I would like to demonstrate some features of MyLatinLab and consider ways in which MyLatinLab may project a model for the entirely-paperless Latin textbook of the future.

12. Portal Page
Here is the Portal Page for Pearson’s MyLanguageLabs, where both students and instructors can register for access to MyLatinLab, obtain technical assistance and sign up for on-line training sessions.
MyLanguageLabs

13. Today’s View – Student View
Here is the screen a student sees after logging into MyLatinLab.
The welcome screen is fully editable by the instructor. I myself change this screen in my course daily to indicate the day’s class agenda and important upcoming course events like quizzes and exams.
MyLanguageLabs

14. Today’s View – Student View
At the message menu students and instructors can send each other electronic messages about the course, questions about the text, etc.
MyLanguageLabs

15. Today’s View – Student View
Note the calendar with icons indicating dates on which assignments are due.
MyLanguageLabs

16. Today’s View – Student View
And this Student Resource Tool Bar includes, as we shall see, access to tutorials, an eBook version of both volumes of Disce, as well as other resources.
MyLanguageLabs

17. Tutorials – English & Latin
Here is a sample tutorial screen, which functions like a Powerpoint. Were I able to access this tutorial live, you would find that the slide is animated
and accompanied by an audio transcript. I have used these tutorials in class to reenforce and review course material and have encouraged students to access the tutorials on their own, outside the classroom.
MyLanguageLabs

18. eText
Here is a sample screen from the eBook version of the textbook. Note the page fidelity to the printed book. This means that students comfortable with reading on a computer screen do not necessarily need a print version of the textbook. The instructor can also project these pages on a screen in the classroom so that students can all focus on the same page of the book and read along together.
MyLanguageLabs

19. eText
The eBook includes an icon to activate interactive features found on a White board so that instructors can use the highlight tool to mark up text as they teach or use bookmark and note tools to indicate particular parts of the text and to add additional comments and material which students can access outside the classroom. MyLanguageLabs access even includes the ability to download eText to an iPad where students can then share notes like a study circle.
MyLanguageLabs

20. eText
Note also these speaker icons next to the reading and the vocabulary. Clicking on these icons loads up audio files in which students can hear vocabulary pronounced out loud or listen to a lectio read in various voices.
MyLanguageLabs

21. Downloadable Media
All audio to accompany the program is available in MP3 format for downloading to supporting players (iPad, iPhone, etc).
MyLanguageLabs

22. Today’s View – Student View
The Student Resource Tool Bar also includes a glossary of Latin words and verb charts.
MyLanguageLabs

23. Audio Glossary
In this glossary are listed all the vocabulary used in Disce! As you can see, there is a search feature to find particular words, which are listed alphabetically in either Latin or English and are accompanied by icons to hear the words pronounced.
MyLanguageLabs

24. Interactive Verb Chart
Here is the verb chart page where students can find particular forms of a verb according to grammatical category
MyLanguageLabs

25. Clear View of Learning Path
When students click on a day on the calendar, they see a list of on-line assignments due for that day. Typically these assignments are from an on-line version of the SAM. These exercises are mostly-machine gradable. Occasionally, a particular exercise requires instructor grading. It is also possible for instructors to upload their own additional assignments to the course content.
MyLanguageLabs

26. Machine Graded SAM Activity
In a machine-graded SAM activity, a student submits answers and immediately receives a grade. An incorrect answer can also prompt feedback such as the one on the screen.
MyLanguageLabs

27. Machine Graded SAM Activity
If students need further help with this activity, this box directs them to relevant tutorials as well as the exact page in the eText relevant to the activity. Efficacy studies have shown that MyLanguageLabs’ approach to online SAM work can help students come to class significantly better prepared and more knowledgable
MyLanguageLabs

28. English Grammar Readiness Checks
Other resources available on-line through MyLatinLab include Pre-Tests for every chapter. Students take this pre-test once.
Based on results, an individualized study plan is generated that brings relavent topic tutorials to them to review.
Students can take the Post-Test as many times as necessary until they reach 100%.
MyLanguageLabs

29. Flashcards
Also available are electronic flashcards for the Verba Discenda, the words students are expected to learn in every chapter. These flashcards can be shuffled, printed, and even exported to a mobile phone!
MyLanguageLabs

30. Today’s View – Instructor’s View
In addition to MyLatinLab for students, there is also an instructor’s view, with more channels than the student view, including ready access to assignments which require instructor grading.
MyLanguageLabs

31. Today’s View – Instructor’s View
As well as alerts about students not passed or idle
MyLanguageLabs

32. Today’s View – Instructor’s View
The instructor’s view also includes information about class and individual student performance in the course.
MyLanguageLabs

33. Today’s View – Instructor’s View
And the course content icon at the top of the screen provides access for the instructor to all the on-line exercises and resources which can be assigned to students.
MyLanguageLabs

34. Online Training
Time does not permit a more detailed tour of MyLatinLab, but frequent on-line training and webinars are offered by Pearson on a variety of topics.
MyLanguageLabs

35. My Latin Lab: Towards a Paperless Latin Course
Tom Sienkewicz
CAMWS 2012
MyLatinLab is only the beginning for paperless Latin courses. During our discussion period, I hope we will have an opportunity to discuss what is good and bad about such an approach and where such electronic pedagogy can lead us in the future.