Delivering The Best

Using Virtual Environments for Content-Based Problem Solving and

Presentation and Speaking Skill Improvement—The Results

Don Fischer, PhD, Provost, DLIFLC

Constant Challenge

• Technological and methodological change

• Language and culture

• Environment to deal with:– Flattening– Buy-in– Application– Ownership

Past Projects

• The Role of Class Size Reduction and Technological Innovation in Foreign Language Learning (TTO-103)

• Optimal Foreign Language Learning: The Role of Technology and Teacher/Student Variables (TTO-2103 )

• Pre-DLAB (TTO-116)

• External Evaluation of Program Budget Decision (TTO-115)

• AutoDLAB (TTO-113)

• Distributed Learning (dL) in Foreign Language Education: Principles, Best Practices, and Approaches to Evaluation (ARI)

• Brain Fitness Training (TTO 83452)

Current Projects

• Technology-Mediated Language Training (TTO 101)• Distributing Language and Culture Training to Diverse

Audiences: Applying New Technologies and Applications (ARI)• Tone Aptitude Studies (TTO-82119)• DLAB2 (TTO-82114)• Authentic Input, Learner Output, Interaction and Feedback on

Error in Distance Learning Context (TTO-82121)• DLIFLC Provost’s Strategic Plan (TTO-82107)• Effects of Passage Length and Other Factors on Test Item

Difficulty (TTO-81434)• Homework and Self-Study Project (TTO-82120)• Lexical Learning (TTO-82122)• Executive Function Intervention/Working Memory Training

(TTO 83506)

Rapid Change, Organizational Learning

• Technology is constantly changing

• People find varying ways to use it

• Learning occurs at different points and different rates

• Learning occurs faster than it can be transmitted and turned into practice

• How and why do we have to develop ways to keep up?

Issues• Digital Natives as students

• Digital Immigrants as faculty

• Technology for technology’s sake or because it contributes

• Hypothesis is that technology will facilitate learning

• How do we insure that technology resources are applied?

(Socrates in The Phaedrus: Writing undermines Memory)

Diversity in Readiness to Learn

More Heads Are Better Than One Head…Generally

Situated learning

Environment for interactions and

relationshipsNetwork for sharing

Activities and resources

Grounding

Common beliefDistributed cognition Changing levels of participation

Group sense-making

Creativity and new solutions

Emergence of Collaborative Knowledge and Group Sense-Making

Community of Practice

Faculty Development Experiment

• Technology competence and ownership• Presentation and speaking skills• Teaching and learning improvement• Situated• Collaborative• Model the use of technology• 18 Faculty: nine adopters, nine new to

technology or needing experience

New Means of Interaction

• .EDU (access to Web 2.0)

• Broadband Language Training System

• ELLUMINATE

• Adobe CONNECT

• Sakai/Blackboard Learning Management Systems

• Example

Output

• Two face to face, 12 virtual sessions• Presentation to Deans and faculty• Significant change in competency and attitude• Example issues addressed:

– Presentations of 19 of the 60+ elements of technology available to classroom

– Using Elluminate and similar systems for homework help, study hall, special assistance, and student projects

• Most important: Provost and 18 faculty engaged in learning and dialog

Next Steps

• Discourse analysis

• Publish

• Use to involve more faculty as well as students and staff in analysis of issues

• Use to develop Community of Practice– Arabic Reading Working Group (ARWG)– Teaching standard Arabic for reading while

teaching dialect (Iraqi, Levantine, Egyptian, Sudanese)

Discussion/Questions?