INTEGRATION OF ICT IN LSP LEARNING AT THE NTUA

1. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center INTEGRATION OF ICT IN LSP LEARNING AT THE NTUA Kolethra Eleni, Petrianidi Lambrini, Rapacciuolo Maria Angela, Moscha Anna The project is co-funded by the European Union – European Social Fund & National Resources – EPEAEK II

2. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center The FL courses at the NTUA • 4 foreign languages • 9 different departments: • Applied Sciences, Architecture, Chemical, Civil, Electrical & Computer, Mechanical, Metallurgy & Mining, Naval, Rural & Surveying Engineering • 6 instructors • 13–week course • Tight students’ schedule • Status of the language course in a Technical University

3. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center LSP e-learning course development at the NTUA • A. e-course focused on assessment • B. e-courses focused on autonomous learning (Blended Learning)

4. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center General Educational Principles • Learners participate actively in their own learning process constructing new understanding based on what they already know. • Learners’ understanding can change to accommodate new knowledge in new learning experiences. Learning is active rather than passive (Canapero, 2004). • Students do not learn in a step-by-step fashion, but they acquire features according to their needs, rather than incrementally in the order that teachers present them (Hyland, 2000).

5. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Educational Objectives for the e-courses • Innovation of the teaching methods • Fostering independent learning • Facilitation of construction of students’ personal language knowledge • Optimization of learning resources • Integration of traditional learning with autonomous learning through IT

6. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center A. The ESP e-course focused on assessment Situation at the NTUA: • 2200 students • 3 instructors

7. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Facing the Situation • Develop an e-course (supplementary), automatically assessed • Limit the load of assignment marking

8. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Content of the e-course • Subject specific authentic texts and videos • Pools of various types of exercises • Facilitators (glossary, remarks, hints) • References • Evaluation questionnaire

9. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center The e-course

10. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center

11. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Implementation of the e-course • Learning Management System (LMS) managed by the Computer Center team: • IBM Lotus Learning Management System • Effective handling of load • Possibility to Work Offline • Well-defined structure of e-courses • Minimum dependence on IT experts • E-course developed by the instructors of English after an initial training on the authoring tool: • IBM Workplace Collaborative Learning Authoring Tool • Powerful tool for course creation • User friendly

12. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Statistical Analysis • Evaluation of students’ grades (students’ performance) • e-course in 2005 • written exams in 2005 • written exams in 3 previous years (2002, 2003, 2004) • Evaluation of questionnaire (students’ attitude) • Students’ technical background • Software evaluation • Content evaluation

13. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Results of Statistical Analysis

14. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Results of Statistical Analysis

15. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Results of Statistical Analysis • Software evaluation index 81,43% • Content rating index (volume-difficulty) 58%

16. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Results of Statistical Analysis • Students having taken assignment or e-course • 2005 higher Mean Score 2002 • in written exams 2003 • 2004 Students’ grades • Students havingtaken • e-course  better grades in written exams • Students’ ITliteracydoes not affect grades in e-course

17. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Instructors’ Interpretation of the Outcome Improvement in terms of: • Language acquisition based on distinction between general English and ESP • Students’ familiarization with ESP vocabulary and text comprehension

18. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Conclusion on the ESP e-course • Development and implementation of an appealing task-based ESP assessment e-course • Minimum dependence on IT experts • Positive feedback from students • Fostering autonomous learning • Improvement of language acquisition • Enriching experience for instructors

19. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center B. Italian and English e-courses focused on autonomous learning (Blended Learning) Two English e-courses: • Civil Engineering • Electrical Engineering One Italian e-course for all nine Departments

20. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center The Italian language course Situation at the NTUA • Few students from all nine departments • Students’ attitude towards the language

21. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center The structure of the e-course • Pre-listening / pre-reading skills (previous experience/motivation) • Listening and reading comprehension of authentic technical texts (hypertext) • Comprehension exercises • Vocabulary practice exercises - General language versus LSP • Self-evaluation test at the end of every unit • Grammar and syntax remarks (technical language) • Glossary • Sites • Evaluation of the e-course

22. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center The Italian e-course

23. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center

24. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Implementation of the Italian e-course • Learning Content Management System (LCMS) managed by the Computer Center team: • Moodle • Open Source • Well known and powerful • User friendly • Contains its own authoring tool • The electronic material produced by the instructor of Italian was adjusted for Moodle by the Computer Center team

25. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Benefits of the e-course • Autonomy in learning (place, time and style) • Getting familiar with the technical language (authentic technical texts) • Broadening individual knowledge (hypertexts) • Increasing students’ motivation (pre-reading/pre-listening, audio, video, photos) • Increasing self-esteem (self evaluation) • Eliminating the affective filter (Krashen) • Clarifying queries with tutor’s help (forum/classroom) • Updating teaching materials

26. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Conclusion • Pilot phase • Students’ feedback

27. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center English Language. Teaching/ LearningThe facts Crowded classes: • Gradually lower participation • Disappointment • Demotivation

28. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Teaching/ LearningPrevious attempts for improvement • Improvement of the textbooks • Written assignments • Assessment e-course

29. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Teaching/ LearningA new approach • Autonomous learning • Active participation • Well-constructed e-courses • Attractive and interactive medium

30. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center The e-courses • Electrical Engineering • Civil Engineering

31. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center New e-course

32. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center English e-courses compared to the Italian e-course Similarities • Structure • Blended learning Differences • Authoring tool - LMS • Subject specificity • Blended learning • Forum

33. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Assessment e-course vs autonomous learning e-course Similarities • The teacher: course designer, material provider • Fostering autonomous learning • Types of exercises • LMS – Authoring tool Differences • Subject specificity • Structure (pool of exercises, different learning styles) • Attempt restriction • Self evaluation

34. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center Conclusion • Enhancing teaching through CALL • CALL developers and class teachers

35. NTUA - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENSForeign Language Center – Computer Center TO BE CONTINUED… THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ESP e-courses: http://lms.central.ntua.gr/lms-lmm ISP e-course: http://rms.central.ntua.gr ekolet@central.ntua.gr , petrilin@central.ntua.gr , marapa@central.ntua.gr , annamos@central.ntua.gr