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Planning and Selecting a Digital Language Lab

Planning and Selecting a Digital Language Lab. Jian Wu, Associate Director Jenise Rowekamp, Director CLA Language Center University of Minnesota. Pre-Planning Questions. Why digital? What does it mean to be digital? Is there a choice? Budget - Do you have the money???.

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Planning and Selecting a Digital Language Lab

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  1. Planning and Selecting a Digital Language Lab Jian Wu, Associate Director Jenise Rowekamp, Director CLA Language Center University of Minnesota

  2. Pre-Planning Questions • Why digital? • What does it mean to be digital? • Is there a choice? • Budget - Do you have the money???

  3. Who are the players? • Language lab vendors • Instructors • Technical staff • Administrators • School purchasing office (bidding)

  4. Steps, Stages & Factors to Consider • Needs Assessment • Technical Planning • Vendor Selection Process • Installation Plan • Training & Support

  5. Needs Assessment • Types of lab: classroom vs. open lab, or both • Types of traditional instructional activities: Drills, guided discussion, pairing, recording student voice, playing audio/video source, etc. • Additional instructional activities: Internet browsing, chatting and messaging, writing and spell-checking in different languages, etc.

  6. Two Important Questions • What old audio lab functions do we want to keep? • Playing audio source to student stations • Monitoring and recording student speech • Setting up pairs or groups, randomly or manually • What new features do we want to have? • Broadcast video to all student screens • Monitoring student screens • Automatic collection of student files • Burning collected files onto CDs • Internet capability • Language capability

  7. Technical Planning -Components of a Digital Lab • Computers • Language lab software • All-in-one or modularized systems • Language lab hardware & electronics • Audio/video control system, and computer monitoring system • Other software • Furniture • Raceway and power outlet • Layout • ADA compliant

  8. Technical Planning - More Considerations • Is there enough power in the designated location? • Who is going to provide the Internet access and set up the local area network (LAN)? • What kinds of AV equipment are needed, e.g., DVD player, VCR, document camera, data projector?

  9. Vendor/Product Selection Process • Finding the vendors/products • Conferences, websites, word of mouth • Getting more information about the vendors/products • Campus presentation, brochure, request for proposals (RFPs, bids) • Evaluating and selecting the vendor/product • Selection committee consisting of instructors, technical staff and administrators

  10. (Continued) • Selection criteria • Audio lab hardware/software • Furniture and computers • Total cost • Terms of conditions for installation, training, warranty and support service • Others (see sheet) • Point value and narrative comments

  11. (Continued) • Important questions to ask • Are features and functions integrated or modularized? • Is a feature presented really what we want? • Does a certain feature require a third-party product, such as Microsoft NT server and license? • What are the specifications of the cabling system and physical devices? • Are there good training and user manuals?

  12. (Continued) • Some advice • Read the proposal carefully; do not take things for granted • Get clarification for unclear points from vendors as much as you can, through emails or phones. • Ask direct and straight-forward questions • Decision made!!! • Relieved? Yes! • Happy? Yes! …at least for now.

  13. Installation Plan - Sample Timeline • Week 1, Vendor site inspection • Week 2, Old furniture removals • Week 3-5, Power installation • Week 6, Furniture installation • Week 7, PC and LAN installation • Week 8, Language Lab electronics & cable installation • Week 8, Language Lab electronics & cable installation • Week 9 & 10, Testing • Week 11 & 12, Training & orientation

  14. Training & Support • Training issues • Vendor-provided training • Local (Language Center) training • Support issues • Vendor-provided support • Local (Language Center) support

  15. DiLL - Our New Digital Language Lab • A virtual tour • Http://languagecenter.cla.umn.edu/lc/asclab/VRlab.mov • Our DiLL guides • Http://languagecenter.cla.umn.edu/lc/asclab/DiLLGuide.pdf

  16. Contact Information • Jian Wu, wuxxx015@tc.umn.edu • Jenise Rowekamp, rowek001@umn.edu • http://LanguageCenter.cla.umn.edu/

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