Week 06: Blog 1: Implementing the change.

Hi Robert, Donna and all

This is how I started writing about my project. This change is introduced to address the problems of managing the limited number of computers and classroom space as resources and to address the issue of lack of “intrinsic” motivation to learn English, as introduced under “ issue” in the previous blogs. The online course is a “chnge”, in view of the classroom based CALL course I used to conduct in the previous years.  

I am not sure whether writing about the project has be like this with an introduction, purpose, content, etc, format. Please comment, if I am not doing it in the right way. Besides, Since I am not teaching now, I am planning to lay out the plan for the design of the course and implement and start the course in 2012.

Web-Based English Language Learning Program

A project Plan to be implemented in 2012

1. Introduction/Background:

1.1 Introduction

This is a project plan on designing a web-based English language learning program to be implemented in 2012.

1.2 Student Population

Second year undergraduate students of the Faculty of Arts.  They are around 20 years of age. 

1.2.1 Language proficiency

‘Iintermediate’ level overall with slightly varying degrees individually. In their first year they have already undergone an English language learning course conducted by the ELTU of the university

1.2.2 Computer Literacy

They have also undergone the Basics in Computer Literary course conducted by the Computer Center of the University. Thus, they are already familiar with the basic tools used in relation to web technology.

1.2.3  Use of English

The medium of instruction in most of their content course units is English. Though they do most of their studies in the English medium, majority of them are not confident enough to use English language outside as well as inside the class rooms and they still need to develop their English language proficiency in all the areas of four skills.

1.3 ClassRoom Setting

Computer Aided Language Learning Centre of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. The learning centre has 25 computers with internet and multimedia facilities. Outside the multimedia laboratory some students will have access to the internet at home and all can use the computers in the main computer laboratory of the university for use and internet access.

Purpose and Objectives: The objective of the project and the program is to create an online English language learning program to cater to the large number of students (around 400) who can not be physically accommodated in the Computer Aided Language Learning Centre with 25 computers, thus creating a virtual setting for all to take part in learning English. At the same time, the course and TLA ( teaching, learning and assessment) activities have to be made interesting to keep up the level of motivation for the students to continue to learn English.

Design of the Program (course)

The course is to be run based on one main web page with links to the four skills of sub sections which again have links to different modules, WebPages course descriptions, TLA activities.

This area is sketchy. I beg your pardon, it is still under construction.

Main Web Page

http://moodle.org/

http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/learningdesign/objectives/writingobjectives/

http://edtech.tennessee.edu/~bobannon/classifications.html

( I am planning to create the main page with Moodle, ( I haven’t tried Moodle yet, and if anyone knows a better way to create a main (manager) web page please let me know).

( I still have to plan the guidelines content and the “build” of the main page)

These are some of URLs of the web sites I will use as reference material for me and study material for my students.

Reading

http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Liang-ExtensiveReading.html

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/

http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/index.html

http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/

Listening   

http://www.elthillside.com/up/files/article4.doc              

http://www.esl-lab.com/

http://www.real-english.com/reo/1/unit1.html

Writing

http://www.blogger.com/                     

www.parapal-online.co.uk/eap.htm  

http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/

Speech                                   

http://www.real-english.com/reo/1/unit1.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/
https://sites.google.com/site/pronunciationstuff/
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/the-best-sites-to-practice-speaking-english/
http://www.englishbaby.com
www.world-english.org

Vocabulary Development

http://fog.ccsf.edu/~lfried/

http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/

Stories in English

Grammar

http://fog.ccsf.edu/~lfried/

Conversations

www.ello.org/english

Projects

http://susangaer.com/studentprojects/

http://edtech.tennessee.edu/~bobannon/classifications.html

http://www.uoregon.edu/~dhealey/techtips/june2009.html

http://www.uoregon.edu/~dhealey/techtips/sept2009.html

http://www.blogger.com/

( I still have to fine more and better sites and plan the guidelines content and the “build” of these sub pages)

Reading                     Vocabulary Development

Listening                    Stories in English

Writing                      Grammar

Speech                      Conversations

Tharanga