Teaching Grammar with the Toolbox

INTUIT Closing conference

30 January 2008

Anne-Marie van HoofTilburg University

Contents

Results of previous pilot– Focus on use of Ellips

New pilot– Course– Set up

Results/Evaluation– Teacher experience– Student evaluation

First Pilot

• Use of Toolbox (1st version) outside class• Use of Ellips• Results:

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did you do Ellips? did you think exercises wereuseful?

yes

no

New Pilot Course

• Grammar course for weak students• 16.45 – 18.30• 12 weeks• Previously:

Grammar topic every weekUse of book containing information & exercises

• Problems:Student motivationEverybody doing the same exercises at the same timeHardly any time spent on Ellips

New set-up

• 1 hr grammar instruction• 1 hr ‘working with the Toolbox’ in

computer rooms

Advantages:• Students can work at their own pace• Students can choose exercises• Computer gives instant feedback• Teacher can help students one-on-one • Toolbox offers a variety of practice

materials

Experience

• Positive:Programmes actively used in class, esp.

– Ellips– Englishpage.com

Students asked a lot of questionsProblems with exercises solved on the spot

• Drawbacks:Checking e-mailTalking to each otherTime of the day

Toolbox in class

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• Toolbox use in classGraph: Number of Toolbox hits in lessons (one group)

Homework??

• Did they work with the Toolbox outside the lessons?Graph: Number of Toolbox hits between lessons (one group)

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General Usage

• Number of total hits (one group)

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Survey

0102030405060708090

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instructionsclear

structureToolbox

clear

Toolbox well-integrated in

course

Toolboxeasy to use

I like workingwith theToolbox

LevelToolbox fitslevel learner

preferToolbox tobook forgrammar

will useToolbox inthe future

liked set-upof the course

disagree

agree

Conclusions

• The Toolbox: Is user-friendly & well-structuredIs a good tool for guided self-study

– In independent group not used as often

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Conclusions

• The Toolbox: Is user-friendly & well-structuredIs a good tool for guided self-study

– In independent group not used as oftenCannot be used completely without a bookCan be a challenging alternative in class