Russian Language Training. Comparative study of Internet-based educational curricula: the feasibility of formal approach

1. Russian Language Training.Comparative study of Internet-based educational curricula: the feasibility of formal approach Kedrova G. Moscow State University, Philological Faculty, 119899 Moscow,Vorobjovu Gory, MGU, 1 bld. of Humanities, R. 983. E-mail: kedr@philol.msu.ru

2. Distance learning: radical change in the educational process • Old educational process (traditional learning) • Teacher Textbook Student • New educational process (distance learning) • TextbookStudentTeacher 1

3. Principles behind efficient design of on-line textbooks (Cummingham et. al. 1993) • immersion in the context • immersion in social experience • multi-media • possible to study the object from different angles • own context-based initiative of the student supported • possible to test the knowledge gained • activate and support a conscientious approach in the student 1

4. Hypertext, from the point of view of: • the author • multiplicity of the principles defining the layout of information: hierarchical, associative and arbitrary • simple and effective access to any segment of the hypertext • Polyfunctionality of the hypertext blocs • Economy of space 2

5. Hypertext, from the point of view of: • the reader (user) • Free choice of the sequence in which material is to be studied • Adaptability • Individualization of the study process • Simple access to any segment of the hypertext • Lost-in-hyperspace syndrome (LIH) 2

6. Causes of the LIH syndrome (Conklin, 1987; McKnight, Dillon andRichardson, 1991; Nielsen, 1995, etc.): • no way to localize whereabouts (bird eye view) • no context to help navigate through the hypertext (fish eye view) • no way to go back to the earlier studied information • heavy distracting effect because of the multiple choice • masking effect of the «old» and «new» information • conceptual chaos 2

7. User’s navigation behavior strategies : • width-in, or investigate the peripheries of a hypertext bloc • depth-in, or a cascade strategy • lack of strategy, or random strategy 2

8. Functional correlation of the behavioral micro-strategies : • search - cascade strategy • investigate - a «loop» and a «ring» configuration • study - «salient» configuration 2

9. Example of a hypertext graph in a fragment of Russian phonetics drills (knowledge of Russian vowel system) 2

10. Multimedia Learning Environment for Russian Language Training via Internet • Interactive • Adaptive • Optimized To visit our pilot project’s web-site, please, click • here 2