Submitting Multimedia Homework Electronically in a

Web-Based Course

Tianwei XieCalifornia State University, Long

Beach ACTFL Presentation, Boston

Nov. 2000

ProblemProblem

The course management program CourseInfodeveloped by the Blackboard Company is usedto conduct the web-based courses. Althoughthis program provides an easy management ofthe courses, it lacks some functions forlanguage instruction. It does not allow studentsto submit voice and handwritten homeworkand it does not support Chinese codes.

Types of multimedia homework

Voice homeworkHandwritten homeworkTyped homework

SolutionSolution

http://www.hotvoice.comhttp://www.hotvoice.com

http://www.wimba.comhttp://www.wimba.com

The solution is to use free commercial services as supplementary devices. These free services allow students to use the regular phones to record and send their voice homework, to use fax machines to send fax to instructors’ e-mail box.

Hotvoice.comHotvoice.com

Address: http://www.hotvoice.comAddress: http://www.hotvoice.com

Hotvoice Hotvoice TourTour

How to use hotvoiceHow to use hotvoice

Create a free account for your class Create a free account for your class Give students the phone number to Give students the phone number to

call (1-888-9-mailbox)call (1-888-9-mailbox) The number is good for both voice The number is good for both voice

and faxand fax

WimbaWimba

Voice discussion forumVoice discussion forum Text recordingText recording Voice emailVoice email

AdvantagesAdvantages

Convenience for students: Students can send their multimedia homework anytime and anywhere, even though they don't have an access to the computer.

Immediate feedback: When multimedia homework is received, instructor can send his/her feedback immediately to the students through e-mail.

Effective communication: This is a convenient and effective way of communication between instructors and students for on-line or long-distance instruction.

LimitationsLimitations

Hotvoice: cannot direct reply to voice and fax messages. Wimba: voice mail only

More time investment and more requirements from instructors

Unstable commercial services

SuggestionsSuggestions

Instructors need to meet the challenges in using new technology.

Features to handle multimedia homework should be added to the web-based management programs.

Thank you!Thank you!

For more information and further discussion contact Xie Tianwei at

txie@csulb.edu