Building an ELanguage Learning System to Leave No Child Behind

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Building an E-Language Learning Systemto Leave
No Child Behind

• A Partnership Between
• the US Department of Education and Chinese
  Ministry of Education
• November 22, 2002

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E-LANGUAGE LEARNING SYSTEM (ELLS) PURPOSE

• To work cooperatively on the joint
  development, implementation and study of
  e-language instruction to promote bi-literacy
  among students in participating economies by--
  Improving access to second language instruction
  in English, Chinese and Spanish languages among
  students who lack qualified teachers and
  programs.
•    -- Strengthening the quality of instruction
  by enabling all students to experience
  pedagogically sound second-language instruction.
•     
•    

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• -- Improving the quality of teachers of
  second-language instruction by providing them
  access to high-quality online training programs
  in pedagogy and content
• -- Developing an analytic and evaluation agenda
  to improve the knowledge base on effective
  teaching of a second language using technology.
• -- Promoting mutual understanding among students
  and educators in participating countries through
  greater understanding of respective languages and
  cultures.

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Major ELLS Features

• Authentic communication and practice that uses
  computer simulations to expose students to
  language use in real-world environments (e.g.,
  schools, libraries, parks, stores).
• Pedagogically appropriate instruction based on
  the best knowledge from research and practice,
  (e.g., incorporates scientifically-based reading
  research to provide a strong core of
  phonics-based English-language instruction).
• Pattern-driven speech recognition software in
  which students read rich text material with the
  computer correcting mistakes.

• Animated language-learning materials that
  motivate and teach students, (e.g., computerized
  speech tutor to produce accurate facial movements
  in synch with audible speech.
• Adaptive assessments that integrate the
  assessment process to provide real-time feedback
  to individualize instruction and promote
  continuous progress.
• On-line language support systems (I.e.,chat
  rooms, key pals, and multilingual dictionaries)
  to support learning.

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What ELLS Will Look Like

• Present 35, 50-minute lessonsdeveloped over 18
  months
• Target middle school students
• Provide authentic communication experiences using
  the most advanced technology available
• Use a mystery format that is engaging to kids

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How the Work will Get Done

• Almost 3 million of Star Schools national
  activity funds over three fiscal years (2002,
  2003, 2004)
• Interagency Transfer from ED to the U.S. Army
  Training and Support Commandwith a 2-year
  Memorandum of Agreement
• U.S. Army Distance Learning Task Order to
  Northrop Grumman
• Technical Work Group to provide feedback

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Since the First meeting of the TWG
on

• September 22-27, 2002
• Peoples Republic of China

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Remarks by Secretary Paige before the States
Institute On International Education In
SchoolsNovember 20, 2002

• We are ever mindful of the lessons of Sept. 11
  -- one of which is that all future measures of a
  rigorous K-12 education must include a solid
  grounding in other cultures, other languages and
  other histories.
• We are working with other countries, such as in
  the US-China eLanguage project which aims to
  provide opportunities to learn English and
  Chinese to people in both countries using the
  Internet.

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(No Transcript)
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MOU Signing
Secretary Paige affirms.
"Today's MOU represents a partnership that will
build cultural awareness and increase bi-national
communications through the study of language --
by teaching Chinese to American students and
English to Chinese students.
"The E-Language Project recognizes the importance
of language skills in a world economy and
advances education goals for children of both
nations."
Vice Minister Zhou affirms.
The signing of the MOU will lead to the most
extensive governmental education cooperation
between China and the United States since our two
countries established formal diplomatic ties in
1979.
The signing of the MOU marks a starting point
for further cooperation.
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http//www.ed.gov/PressReleases Oct 21
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Joint Partnership with the Chinese Ministry of
Education and the U.S. Department of Education

• The U.S. will develop the English-language
  content and instruction, as well as the internet
  platform. The U.S. will beta-test the system
  during the development and provide an
  end-of-contract evaluation of the systems
  effectiveness.
• The Chinese government will develop program
  content to be delivered on the ELLS platform. A
  Chinese subject matter expert will work with the
  U.S. team on the development of joint content
  themes.

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On Going Activities

• Memo of Understanding
• October 21, 2002
• Meeting
• December 12 18 in Beijing, China
• Analysis Papers
• Review of Communication Technologies
• System Instructional Design
• Crosswalk of Standards
• Textbook Analysis
• Prototype
• Single Lesson
• TWG Meeting
• January 2003 in Honolulu, Hawaii

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http//ott.educ.msu.edu/elanguage/default.asp