Models for TechnologyMediated Language Instruction: Toward Virtual Total Immersion and Study Abroad

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Models for Technology-Mediated Language
Instruction Toward Virtual Total Immersion and
Study Abroad

• Marie A. Cini, Vice Provost and Dean, School of
  Undergraduate Studies
• Gretchen I. Jones, Academic Director, Foreign
  Languages
• Mark Parker, Assistant Provost, Academic Affairs
• MSCHE Annual Conference
  December 8, 2008

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AGENDA

• Introduction Overview
• The Past
• Brief review of language education
• The Present
• Online, technology-mediated language education
• The Future
• Language education in 2018
• Q A

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UMUC Student Base
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View from a Dean

• Factors to Consider with Todays
• Language Learners
• Increasingly Older Population
• Reasons to Study are Diffuse
• Unable to Engage in Lengthy Study Abroad

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From Vivitar to Avatar

• Short Term Study Abroad
• Technology-Enabled Language Study

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THE PAST

• The face-to-face classroom
• Grammar-Translation Method
• Direct Method - Total Immersion
• Audio-Lingual Method
• Study Abroad

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THE PAST

• Technology
• Pen, pencil
• Audio tapes, language labs
• Video
• CD-Roms

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THE PRESENT

• Current pedagogical principles in
• language teaching and learning
• Substantial and varied input of target language
• Interaction between learners
• Attention to integrating all four skills
• reading, writing, speaking, listening
• Meaningful exploration of culture
• Some explicit explanation of linguistic
  points/grammar

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The PRESENT

• Technology
• The rise of the Internet and its related
  technologies
• Computer mediated communication (CMC)
• Computer Aided Language Learning (CALL)
• Glossing Authoring software
• Web based dictionaries, data bases
• Web pages (authentic content newspapers, train
  schedules)

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THE PRESENT

• Teaching Language Online in2008
• State of online language education
• UMUC 3rd Semester Japanese Course
• Strengths
• Limitations

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Technologies Combined

• Online Modules (Content)
• Developed in house by UMUC Course Development
• Course management system
• Communication, student interaction
• Collaborative learning / communication software
  Horizon Wimba

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Course Modules

• JAPN114
• 3rd Semester Japanese
• Developed by UMUC
• Faculty author
• Administrators
• Instructional Designers
• Computer Programmers
• Graphic Designers

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UMUC Course Management System
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Course Management System
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Integrating Culture

• Video from YouTube
• Culture
• Student Interaction
• Learner autonomy

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Communication Software

• Wimba Voice Tools
• Voice Presentation asynchronous
• Voice Board asynchronous
• Voice Direct synchronous

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What We Can Do Now

• Autonomous learning in 24-7 environment
• Accessible with internet connection
• Vast input resources
• Student Interaction
• Text
• Voice
• Synchronous / Asynchronous

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On the immediate horizon

• Widespread availability of person-to-person video
  conferencing
• Greater integration of various tools

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Where are We Headed?

• Need for more study abroad like experiences
• Dire need for more language courses
• advanced language training
• less commonly taught languages (Arabic,
  Hindi/Urdu, Pashto, etc.)
• Teacher shortages
• Students dispersed

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The Future

• Build on what were currently doing, but. . .
• Two technological advances to be made
• Web 2.0 (e.g. ? interactivity social networking
  sites)
• Virtual Reality (e.g. Second Life)

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The Future Virtual Reality

• Today, e.g. Second Life

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Hiroshima Peace Park in SL
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Actual Photo of Hiroshima Peace Park
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Visit Japan in the 19th century
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The Future Web 2.0

• Improvement of communication modalities
• e.g. Mobile synchronous audio-video
• ? bandwidth issues, ? quality reliability
• Integration of communication modalities

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The Future

• And one technological revolution in the area of
  AI/HCI
• More direct human/technology interface (Wii is
  transitional example)

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• QUESTIONS?