Every classroom is a CALL room

Wireless and Blended

Language Learning

Don Hinkelman, 2005.10.22Sapporo Gakuin University

Background

One year study at University of Melbourne, Horwood Language Centre

My Research Themes

What is the best method for learning?What is the best software for learning?What is the best hardware for learning?

My Research Approach

Look at new and old theories of CALL

Look at current issues of CALL practice

Where is theory going?

Second Language Instruction (linguistics) Teach grammar and vocabulary

Second Language Acquisition (psychology) Apply natural strategies for mental processing

Second Language Socialisation (sociology) Train language apprentices in a community

Where is theory going?

SLI: focus on the language itself

SLA: focus on the individual learner’s cognition

SLS: focus on how groups do tasks in a purposeful, long lasting community

How do you socialise learners?

1. Choose a goal, a purpose1. Some language learning purposes are:2. Study abroad, Host intl. visitors, Learn a foreign sport

2. Make a community around that goal1. Community is a group that plans and does action2. Community continues on as groups come and go

3. Learn rules, customs, language of that community4. Give tasks and projects for newcomers, assign

veterans to teach them1. Tasks go from simple language to complex language

5. Reflect on learning1. Note the language learned, then practice it in another project

Where is CALL practice going?

1. Authenticity: how make authentic environments?2. Flexibility: how involve all learning styles?3. Configurability: how much can teacher modify

the system?4. Portability: how interchange

activities/content/materials amongst teachers?5. Mobility: where can you use the system?6. Sustainability: how make it easy and cheap?7. Accountability: how measure success?

Issues of CALL Practice

Issue

Authenticity Practice or participation?

Flexibility One style of teaching, or many?

Configurability Easy to modify or closed source?

Portability Captured or sharable?

Mobility Fixed or movable?

Sustainability Time-saving or time-consuming?

Accountability Measured or assessed?

My Research Results

1. What is the best method for learning?

Blended learning

2. What is the best software for learning?

Portal software

3. What is the best hardware for learning?

Wireless hardware

Best Method?Blended learning

What is it? Blended learning is step by step CALL Blended learning combines many kinds of

pedagogy--single learner and collaborative Blended learning is low cost Blended learning uses appropriate

technology Blended learning is common sense

Case Study 1

Global Issues Textbook with Online Activities Online Interaction Online Review Online Projects Online References Face-to-face Pairwork Face-to-face Pronunciation Face-to-face Role Plays Face-to-face Simulations

Problems of Project-based learning

Time consuming To listen to each presentation To collect papers and versions of the project To mark each project To keep track of individualised learning

Complicated Many versions of each project, each version requiring

assessment Many kinds of criteria for rating

Case Study 2:Blended Learning Projects Combine online and face-to-face project management

Online role Collect papers Peer assessment

Face-to-face role Individual coaching Introducing new templates

Move teacher assessment to peer assessment Save teacher time and improve student learning

Build a software to support blended learning

Announcement: Project Module for Moodle released 10.21

Case Study 2:Blended Learning ProjectsFace-to-face projects with software managementStudents can… Brainstorm ideas, Select ideas Make groups to work in Submit their project files Assess other student files, view marks Schedule an appointment to make presentationTeachers can… Assign topics to students Collect all files in one place Assess the submitted projects See total grades/marks made by peers and by teacher

Best Software?Portal Software

1. All applications deployed by the web. No CDs, no standalone software Instant availability of software, no distribution channel, less

paperwork Just need a browser

2. Open source licensing Interoperable software, combine pieces into one portal Teachers patching together lessons from all over the

world, “bricoleur”

3. Collaborative community building Creates a learning community Integrates all grades, activities, participation into one place

What kind of portal software

Builds a community of learners Not just software, but a gathering “room” Not just drills, but human-to-human communication Stores all messages and participation Server-side database: for collaboration

Modifiable, extendable by teachers Open source All software can plug into the portal

Which OS?

LAMP (fastest and most secure)

Linux: core OSApache: webserverMySQL: shared databasePHP: action scripting,

communication tool

Which learning community portal?

Four open source portals A-tutor Claroline Dekeos Moodle

Largest, most active user community International standards for exchange

IMS-Learning Design, SCORM Free, like Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP The OS of education: Moodle

Who is using Moodle Open Source Portal (CMS)?

New Zealand: Open Polytechnic, 70,000 users Australia: Recommended by Dept. of Education,

EDNA China: rumor that the Ministry of Education will adopt

this December Europe: strong in Germany, UK, Netherlands

Recommended by EU consortium: UNFOLD North America

California State University (largest university system in the world), part of World Bank programs

Thousands of High Schools, Primary Schools, Private Training Companies, Special Schools

Case Study 3

SGU Language Class Portal Learn in groups Find a purpose -- a meaningful project Develop learning goals beyond a single term 24/7 activities Integrated with textbook Listening quizzes Placement and Progress Tests ”elearning” site and “englishforum” site

Case Study 4

“Glitter” Class Newspaper (Thal Silverwood) One student, one article

Creative, self-selected Intrinisic motivition I want to do this, not teacher told

me to do this. Useful, purposeful Grammar taught in context, as needed, just in

time Writing structure taught with an audience in mind

Case Study 5 ibunka communication ron Intercultural Communication Class

Best Hardware?Wireless Notebooks

Key Design Factors Portable, small (A4), light Owned by student Access wireless internet all over campus Connect to internet at home Use in-class in classrooms and lecture rooms Use out-of-class in library, lounges, cafeteria

Case Study 6:Wireless Campus Project

SGU expands from

2 >> 35 CALL rooms

Case Study 6:SGU Wireless Campus Former CALL Rooms (before 2005.4.1)

Current CALL Rooms (after 2005.4.1)

第１ CALL 室 A-202 第２ CALL 室　 A-201

A-301 A-302 A-303 A-304 A-305

A-306 A-307 A-308 A-309 A-310

A-311 A-312 A-313 A-314 A-315

A-316 A-317 A-318 A-201 A-202

B-201 B-202 C-201 C-202 C-203

C-204 C-205 C-206 C-301 C-302

C-303 C-304 C-305 C-306 C-307

Case Study 6:SGU Wireless Campus

How did this happen?No plan to expand CALL roomsNo budget to expand CALL roomsUniversity looking for cheap way to add internet

accessNow even CALL lounges in halls and cafeteria

Case Study 7Kanda Blended Learning Spaces

Kanda University of International Studies Began in 2002 Full internet with notebook computers for

each student in a face-to-face teaching room Carpeted room Movable desks and chairs Movable teachers desk with projector

Case Studies 6 & 7 Key Design Factor

Student own their computers (not school) Responsibility for security on student Lower cost for school, higher cost for student But most students want their own computer

anyway, so actually not a higher cost Student have 24/7 access to computer for

schoolwork, can use internet at home as well

Case Study 8:Keitai English

Four University Keitei English Project Sapporo Gakuin University Hokusei Gakuen University Yamaguchi University Kanezawa Gakuin University

Developers Workshop 10.21 Planned mobile phone quizzes, polls, attendence,

email, journals and more New software will be programmed by March 2006

Conclusion

1. What is the best method for learning?

Blended learning

2. What is the best software for learning?

Portal software

3. What is the best hardware for learning?

Wireless hardware

Conclusion

Blended learning is step by step Blended learning is common sense Blended learning is combines many kinds of

pedagogy--single learner and collaborative Blended learning is low cost Blended learning uses appropriate

technology

Any classroom can now be a CALL room

With wireless,

collaborative and

blended language learning