A Web-based Multi-A Web-based Multi-lingual Teaching and lingual Teaching and Learning Method for Learning Method for

EngineeringEngineering

Prof. Eric ChengProf. Eric Cheng

Department of Electrical Department of Electrical EngineeringEngineering

The Hong Kong Polytechnic The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity

The SoftwareThe Software

The web program The web program gives many gives many different functionsdifferent functions

Easily to operateEasily to operate No need to have No need to have

previous previous experience in html experience in html or web or web programming programming

FeaturesFeatures

Improve language skill of engineering Improve language skill of engineering studentsstudents

Provide engineering functions for studyProvide engineering functions for study Provide multilingual language translationProvide multilingual language translation Implemented with pronunciationImplemented with pronunciation General exercises for practiceGeneral exercises for practice Web-based lecture notesWeb-based lecture notes Student and lecturer’s account Student and lecturer’s account

managementmanagement

Basic teachingBasic teaching

AnimationAnimation

Switched reluctance motor

Advancing teachingAdvancing teaching

To give more interesting featuresTo give more interesting featuresWebinar = Web seminarWebinar = Web seminarRemote control experiment = virtual Remote control experiment = virtual

laboratorylaboratory

WebminarWebminar

Give videoGive video With audio With audio

broadcastingbroadcasting Give power pointGive power point Give lectureGive lecture Can review any Can review any

timetime

Remote control experimentRemote control experiment

Virtual LaboratoryVirtual Laboratory Not simulationNot simulation Control using GPIB Control using GPIB

to equipmentto equipment Waveforms can be Waveforms can be

sent back to userssent back to users Adjust the electrical Adjust the electrical

connectionconnection Change experimentChange experiment Based on LabViewBased on LabView

Remote control setupRemote control setup

TranslatorTranslator

Although many translation software packages Although many translation software packages

exist around the world, many of them are over exist around the world, many of them are over

several tens MB - it may not be possible to several tens MB - it may not be possible to

download easily.download easily.

Although many web sites providing translation Although many web sites providing translation

engine, it is inconvenient for use.engine, it is inconvenient for use.

Existing packages: General in English, not for Existing packages: General in English, not for

Engineering Engineering

Browser Enhancement Browser Enhancement System (A Web translator) System (A Web translator)

Plug-in program of Internet Plug-in program of Internet Explorer (IE)Explorer (IE)

Provide a text-to-text Provide a text-to-text presentation presentation

And text-to-speech presentation And text-to-speech presentation

of selected text under the IE. of selected text under the IE.

The Web translatorThe Web translator

Client-server program.Client-server program.

AdvantageAdvantage Reduces the size of the software Reduces the size of the software

package in the client side. package in the client side. Provides a shorter time when Provides a shorter time when

downloading the software package ‘BES’.downloading the software package ‘BES’. And now over 60,000 words stored in the And now over 60,000 words stored in the

database. database.

FunctionFunction The WTS program provide 8 functionsThe WTS program provide 8 functions

Chinese TranslationChinese Translation Explanation in EnglishExplanation in English Explanation in ChineseExplanation in Chinese Sample Usage in EnglishSample Usage in English Sample Usage in ChineseSample Usage in Chinese Pronunciation in EnglishPronunciation in English Pronunciation in CantonesePronunciation in Cantonese Pronunciation in MandarinPronunciation in Mandarin

Use of Web TranslatorUse of Web Translator User should be high-User should be high-

lighted a word in lighted a word in advance menu by right-advance menu by right-clicking the mouse under clicking the mouse under IE.IE.

Select one of the Select one of the functions of the advance functions of the advance right-click menu.right-click menu.

The result of the word is The result of the word is given immediately by given immediately by popping up a dialog box popping up a dialog box or speech by speaker.or speech by speaker.

Demonstration of Web Demonstration of Web translatortranslator

Summary of translation Summary of translation packagepackage

Minimize the size of the translation Minimize the size of the translation

software package. software package.

Database stored in the server can be Database stored in the server can be

updated easily and efficiently.updated easily and efficiently.

Multi-language pronunciations are Multi-language pronunciations are

provided.provided.

Other Available ToolsOther Available Tools EssayToLinkEssayToLink

to creating dynamic web page from simple to creating dynamic web page from simple text input. text input.

Glossary Input PageGlossary Input Page to help teachers to create and manage to help teachers to create and manage

glossary.glossary. HTML producerHTML producer

To help inexperienced teachers to develop To help inexperienced teachers to develop webweb pages. pages.

EssayToLinkEssayToLink

Implemented using a CGI (Common Gateway Implemented using a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) on the server side.Interface) on the server side.

First, the User (Student) inputs an essay to First, the User (Student) inputs an essay to input area; then, the essay content will be sent input area; then, the essay content will be sent to the server.to the server.

The essay will then be broken down into words The essay will then be broken down into words and check against a database for predefined and check against a database for predefined links.links.

If a match was found, an html code segment will If a match was found, an html code segment will be generated to create a link for the given word.be generated to create a link for the given word.

EssayToLink: InputEssayToLink: Input

This is input area for This is input area for users to copy and paste users to copy and paste essays. essays.

A CGI program be A CGI program be executed when the executed when the essay was sent to the essay was sent to the server. server.

EssayToLink: OutputEssayToLink: Output

Demonstration Demonstration

Demonstration On-line Demonstration On-line TranslationTranslation

Glossary Input PageGlossary Input Page

CConcise common definition of technical and oncise common definition of technical and other terms other terms can be entered by teacherscan be entered by teachers

Glossary input page is an interface for Glossary input page is an interface for teachers to input the details of a technical teachers to input the details of a technical term or jargon.term or jargon.

Students can easily lookup and have better Students can easily lookup and have better understanding on the given term or jargon.understanding on the given term or jargon.

Teachers are allowed to add, change and Teachers are allowed to add, change and delete glossary items without altering the delete glossary items without altering the page layout once the web page was page layout once the web page was created.created.

GlossaryGlossary

Easy to inputEasy to input Coherence to a Coherence to a

subjectsubject With meaning in With meaning in

Chinese and Chinese and EnglishEnglish

HTML ProducerHTML Producer

HTML Producer can HTML Producer can help inexperience help inexperience teachers to develop teachers to develop web pages.web pages.

It provides standard It provides standard templates for web templates for web page with page with consistent look and consistent look and feel.feel.

HTML Producer: Software HTML Producer: Software approach approach

The HTML Producer is implemented using The HTML Producer is implemented using PHP.PHP.

Three standard templates are currently Three standard templates are currently available for users (teachers) to choose available for users (teachers) to choose from.from.

Each user will have his/her own login Each user will have his/her own login account and development environment.account and development environment.

Search engine is provided to automatically Search engine is provided to automatically insert links from the search database. Large insert links from the search database. Large items such as photos can be uploaded via items such as photos can be uploaded via ftp service.ftp service.

Summary of these Summary of these functionsfunctions

A set of WWW-based tools was developed to A set of WWW-based tools was developed to facilitate efficient web teaching and learning.facilitate efficient web teaching and learning.

In the future, more teaching material will be In the future, more teaching material will be converted to the EssayToLink format.converted to the EssayToLink format.

The Html producer only provides basic facilities The Html producer only provides basic facilities for creating web page. Both the user-for creating web page. Both the user-friendliness and functionality needs to be friendliness and functionality needs to be improved.improved.

Initial trials show both students and teachers Initial trials show both students and teachers find the tools useful and would like to be find the tools useful and would like to be incorporated in all web teaching and learning incorporated in all web teaching and learning materials if possible.materials if possible.

Audio Audio

Voice PageVoice Pageto help students on English to help students on English

pronunciationpronunciationAudio form of WebAudio form of Web

Voice PageVoice Page

Voice page Voice page implements a implements a mouth within a mouth within a browser. browser.

It uses the Microsoft It uses the Microsoft Speech Engine to Speech Engine to help students to help students to visualize the mouth visualize the mouth movements needed movements needed for speaking English for speaking English correctly.correctly.

Audio form of WebAudio form of Web

Allow the text can Allow the text can be converted to be converted to video formvideo form

Good pronunciation Good pronunciation and intonationand intonation

Alternative method Alternative method to read (listen) a to read (listen) a web pageweb page

Blind personBlind person

Other ToolsOther Tools

Graph PlottingGraph PlottingAuthentic writingAuthentic writingNewsNewsHTML converterHTML converterPronunciation trainingPronunciation trainingFile management & Administration File management & Administration

Graph plottingGraph plotting

Engineering tool Engineering tool for plotting for plotting independent independent equationequation

No need to open a No need to open a second windowssecond windows

Authentic WritingAuthentic Writing

Give different Give different examples for examples for referencereference

Engineering writing Engineering writing Examples Examples

Authentic WritingAuthentic Writing

Also give a popular Also give a popular format of the format of the authentic writingauthentic writing

Users can base on Users can base on the format to the format to practise writingpractise writing

HTML converterHTML converter

Convert MSWord Convert MSWord to HTML 4.0to HTML 4.0

Can ensure the Can ensure the output agree with output agree with your formatyour format

Can adjust the Can adjust the output through a output through a style controlstyle control

Pronunciation trainingPronunciation training

Compare your Compare your voice with a voice with a standard standard

You can listen and You can listen and do trainingdo training

The voice The voice waveform is also waveform is also displayed for displayed for detailed detailed comparison.comparison.

AdministrationAdministration

File managementFile management News broadcastNews broadcast Send Message to Send Message to

studentsstudents Search engine Search engine

Our exercise Web sitesOur exercise Web sites

The Grammar SectionThe Grammar Section

Explanation of grammar rulesExplanation of grammar rulesGrammar exercisesGrammar exercises

Java-based exercisesJava-based exercisesTrue/FalseTrue/FalseMultiple ChoicesMultiple ChoicesFill in the BlanksFill in the BlanksEntry of exercise through database AccessEntry of exercise through database Access

HTML-based exercisesHTML-based exercisesSentence Correction/RestructuringSentence Correction/Restructuring

Content page of exercisesContent page of exercises

Looking at Grammar RulesLooking at Grammar Rules

Explanation for voicesExplanation for voices

Java-based ExercisesJava-based ExercisesProgrammed by Java & MS AccessProgrammed by Java & MS Access

Codes written in Java Server Pages Codes written in Java Server Pages (JSP)(JSP)

Databases created by ParadoxDatabases created by ParadoxQuestions and feedback are stored inQuestions and feedback are stored in

Two formatsTwo formatsTypical Format (any questions in a Typical Format (any questions in a

page)page)Random formatRandom format

Java-based ExercisesJava-based Exercises

True/False exercisesTrue/False exercisesState whether the statements are State whether the statements are

correct (True) or not (False)correct (True) or not (False)

Java-based ExercisesJava-based Exercises

Multiple Choices exercisesMultiple Choices exercisesIndicate the correct answer from 4 Indicate the correct answer from 4

optionsoptions

Java-based ExercisesJava-based Exercises

Fill in the Blanks exercisesFill in the Blanks exercisesPut the missing word in the boxPut the missing word in the box

HTML-based ExercisesHTML-based Exercises

Sentence Correction/RestructuringSentence Correction/RestructuringCorrect or reconstruct (rewrite) the Correct or reconstruct (rewrite) the

sentencessentences

Checking resultChecking result

The result of your The result of your tests can be tests can be submiited and the submiited and the score can be score can be obtained directlyobtained directly

An explanation will An explanation will also be popped upalso be popped up

Update the exerciseUpdate the exercise

The exercise can The exercise can be updated easilybe updated easily

Both question, Both question, answer and answer and explanation can be explanation can be edited onlineedited online

Update the exerciseUpdate the exercise

Edit the question, Edit the question, choices and choices and explanation in their explanation in their fieldfield

Submit to the Submit to the databasedatabase

Demonstration: ExercisesDemonstration: Exercises

Demonstration: Editing Demonstration: Editing Exercises Exercises

Applications to teachingsApplications to teachings

Summary of the Exercise Summary of the Exercise PackagePackage

Analyzed the general error mistake Analyzed the general error mistake for studentsfor students

Developed a series of web-based Developed a series of web-based exercise for students to practiseexercise for students to practise

Applied to tests and general teachingApplied to tests and general teaching

Other toolsOther tools

Discussion/News groupDiscussion/News groupMessageMessageSpelling checkSpelling check

Demonstration for discussion Demonstration for discussion GroupGroup

ConclusionConclusion

A generalized web-based package for A generalized web-based package for teaching and learning has developedteaching and learning has developed

Provide, more than 60,000 words of Provide, more than 60,000 words of database in 2 languages (3 dialects).database in 2 languages (3 dialects).

Integrated with web-teachingIntegrated with web-teachingHas found very useful for both Has found very useful for both

teachers and studentsteachers and students

Thank youThank you

Please visit our web-site onPlease visit our web-site on

http://http://eelearning.ee.polyu.edu.hkeelearning.ee.polyu.edu.hk