1. Planning and Selecting a Digital Language Lab
Jian Wu, Associate Director
Jenise Rowekamp, Director
CLA Language Center
University of Minnesota

2. Pre-Planning Questions
Why digital?
What does it mean to be digital?
Is there a choice?
Budget - Do you have the money???

3. Who are the players? Language lab vendors Instructors Technical staff
Administrators
School purchasing office (bidding)

4. Steps, Stages & Factors to Consider
Needs Assessment
Technical Planning
Vendor Selection Process
Installation Plan
Training & Support

5. Needs Assessment Types of lab: classroom vs. open lab, or both
Types of traditional instructional activities: Drills, guided discussion, pairing, recording student voice, playing audio/video source, etc.
Additional instructional activities: Internet browsing, chatting and messaging, writing and spell-checking in different languages, etc.

6. Two Important Questions
What old audio lab functions do we want to keep?
Playing audio source to student stations
Monitoring and recording student speech
Setting up pairs or groups, randomly or manually
What new features do we want to have?
Broadcast video to all student screens
Monitoring student screens
Automatic collection of student files
Burning collected files onto CDs
Internet capability
Language capability

7. Technical Planning -Components of a Digital Lab
Computers
Language lab software
All-in-one or modularized systems
Language lab hardware & electronics
Audio/video control system, and computer monitoring system
Other software
Furniture
Raceway and power outlet
Layout
ADA compliant

8. Technical Planning - More Considerations
Is there enough power in the designated location?
Who is going to provide the Internet access and set up the local area network (LAN)?
What kinds of AV equipment are needed, e.g., DVD player, VCR, document camera, data projector?

9. Vendor/Product Selection Process
Finding the vendors/products
Conferences, websites, word of mouth
Getting more information about the vendors/products
Campus presentation, brochure, request for proposals (RFPs, bids)
Evaluating and selecting the vendor/product
Selection committee consisting of instructors, technical staff and administrators

10. (Continued) Selection criteria Point value and narrative comments
Audio lab hardware/software
Furniture and computers
Total cost
Terms of conditions for installation, training, warranty and support service
Others (see sheet)
Point value and narrative comments

11. (Continued) Important questions to ask
Are features and functions integrated or modularized?
Is a feature presented really what we want?
Does a certain feature require a third-party product, such as Microsoft NT server and license?
What are the specifications of the cabling system and physical devices?
Are there good training and user manuals?

12. (Continued) Some advice Decision made!!!
Read the proposal carefully; do not take things for granted
Get clarification for unclear points from vendors as much as you can, through s or phones.
Ask direct and straight-forward questions
Decision made!!!
Relieved? Yes!
Happy? Yes! …at least for now.

13. Installation Plan - Sample Timeline
Week 1, Vendor site inspection
Week 2, Old furniture removals
Week 3-5, Power installation
Week 6, Furniture installation
Week 7, PC and LAN installation
Week 8, Language Lab electronics & cable installation
Week 9 & 10, Testing
Week 11 & 12, Training & orientation

14. Training & Support Training issues Support issues
Vendor-provided training
Local (Language Center) training
Support issues
Vendor-provided support
Local (Language Center) support

15. DiLL - Our New Digital Language Lab
A virtual tour
Our DiLL guides

16. Contact Information
Jian Wu,
Jenise Rowekamp,