Language Lab Update

September 28, 2007

Tasks

1. Enhance existing lab (status quo)

1. Enhance existing lab (status quo)

2.Develop master plan for future

Tasks

1. Enhance existing lab (status quo)

2.Develop master plan for future

3.Ensure integration with curriculum

Tasks

1. Enhance existing lab (status quo)

Well-trained student assistants

Increased hours

Additional materials

Take advantage of“free software”

Greater use of on-lineresources

Blackboard

2.Develop master plan for future

3.Ensure integration with curriculum

Tasks

1. Enhance existing lab (status quo)

Well-trained student assistants

Increased hours

Additional materials

Take advantage of“free software”

Greater use of on-lineresources

Blackboard

2.Develop master plan for future

Fact-finding

Faculty surveys

Student survey

Benchmark “best practices”

Desired features andspecifications

RFP (CTS/vendors)

Budget request

Phased implementation

3.Ensure integration with curriculum

Tasks

1. Enhance existing lab (status quo)

Well-trained student assistants

Increased hours

Additional materials

Take advantage of“free software”

Greater use of on-lineresources

Blackboard

2.Develop master plan for future

Fact-finding

Faculty surveys

Student survey

Benchmark “best practices”

Desired features andspecifications

RFP (CTS/vendors)

Budget request

Phased implementation

3.Ensure integration with curriculum

Department-widepedagogical model

Textbook lab manuals

Lab assignments

Vocabulary/grammar

Oral/speaking

Culture / film / literature

Creative (writing, audio, video, Web site)

Teaching aids

Web or Blackboardlesson plans

Tasks

Current Set UpWHAT WE HAVE

Master console

28 stations

Cassettes, CD ROMs, videos

Lab manuals

Films

HOW IT IS USED

Limited use for class sessions

Limited assignments

Testing

Individual student learning

Language Learning Today Constructivist model

Blended classrooms

Blackboard

Moodle and Webcams

Captured spoken grammar

Faculty-developed HTML-based lesson plans with hyperlinks

On-line streaming video

Creative production:

Videos and audios

Websites

Dorm / home access to media

Key Questions (status quo)

1. Do you make use of the lab today? If not, why not?

2. Do students use it?

3. What are the major shortcomings of the current lab?

4. What can we do, short-term, to improve the lab and increase usage?

Multimedia materials

Student assistants

Access hours

Key Questions (future plan)

1. What is the department’s pedagogical model for employing technology in language learning?

2. Would you make greater use of an updated lab for class sessions?

3. Should the lab be incorporated into the curriculum, as an integral part of lesson plans and assignments, or is the primary role to serve as a supplemental, extracurricular resource for individual student learning?

4. What are the priority uses, and technology requirements, for classroom sessions (specific learning goals)?

5. What are the priority uses for individual student learning?

6. How committed are we as faculty to learning and implementing new language-learning technologies, including lab operations?

Matching Needs with TechnologiesLEARNING REQUIREMENTS

Class management

Course management

Vocabulary

Grammar

Writing

Pronunciation

Reading comprehension

Culture

Film & literature

Matching Needs with TechnologiesTECHNOLOGIES

Master control console

Student cassette decks

Language software (CDs, DVDs withtext, audio, and/or video)

On-line Web-based language programs and resources)

On-line indigenous Web sites(e.g., French news)

Films and videos (VHS and DVDs)

Audio / speech capturing

Group testing software

Document production

Web site authoring software

Graphic production

Web site to post and grade language exercises

Text-based discussion forums(online)

Voice-enabled discussion forum

Tracking of student usage ofWeb resources

Course Web site

Faculty Survey Results1. What statement best describes how you utilized the lab

during the past two semesters?

0 2 4 6 8

Class sessions 1x week

Sporadic class sessions

No class sessions

Special presentations and films

Student assignments 1x week

Used lab manuals/ req. visits

Occasional assignments

Tests

Mentors

Student option

Remedial

No use

Faculty Survey Results2. Why did you make little or no use of the lab?

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Not open when we need it

Don't know how to use it

Software is outdated

Software incompatiblewith texts

Teach in Fisher

Faculty Survey Results3. What are the lab’s shortcomings? What problems have you

experienced? What do you wish the lab had?

“ Too old.” “Hardware doesn’t support new programs.”

“Department did not order materials available with textbooks.”

“Need Vistas DVD.”

“Software outdated.”

“Software incompatible.”

“Software programs too advanced.”

“Need CDs and DVDs for Italian.”

“Student assistants don’t have a clue how to use equipment or where stuff is.”

“It’s not open when students need it.”

Faculty Survey Results3. What are the lab’s shortcomings? What problems have you

experienced? What do you wish the lab had? “Student assistants open late and close early.”

“Too complicated to use for a class session.”

“Waste too much time trying to get everything to work.”

“Don’t like cubicles for class sessions.”

“Would like real-time access to international cable TV.”

“Would like a decent room for showing films (light control, small theatre with large screen, good sound, comfortable seats that would still allow for class participation.”

“Listening comprehension CDs.”

“Audio and video editing equipment.”

“Faculty training.”

Faculty Survey Results4. Are you aware of any outstanding software programs that

we should look at? What universities should we benchmark ourselves against?

Audacity

BYU

Foreign Service

Salamanca

Pitt

Moodle

Slippery Rock (Virtuoso/Soloist-SONY; Auralog)

Faculty Survey Results5. What is the future of the language lab as a learning and

teaching resource? “Do we really need a lab?”

“The high school model of a drills-based language lab is obsolete.”

“Lab features/capabilities can be blended into the classroom.”

“This is the iPod age. Students want to be able to access materials from their home or dorm, and put it on their iPods.”

Next Steps

1. Enhance the status quo

Train student assistants

Increase hours ?

Add 3rd assistant ?

Request additional CDs, DVDs

Take advantage of“free software”

Greater use of on-lineresources

Blackboard training for faculty?

YOUR IDEAS

Next Steps

1. Enhance the status quo

Train student assistants

Increase hours ?

Add 3rd assistant ?

Request additional CDs, DVDs

Take advantage of“free software”

Greater use of on-lineresources

Blackboard training for faculty?

YOUR IDEAS

2. Future master plan

CTS survey

Student survey

Pitt visit

Other universities

Additional research

Your suggestions

CTS recommendations

Final features and specifications

Budget proposal

Next Steps

3. Integrate into curriculum

Determine pedagogical model

Blackboard training/integration

Supplemental multimedia textbook materials

New teaching tools

Audio recording

Creative production

Course Web sites

???

Free Programs Available

http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Sound recording

Audacity

Windows Sound Recorder

programs/accessories/entertainment/sound recorder