Dr John Senior

1. Dr John Senior E-learning presentation

2. E-language learning Key concepts

3. Background

4. Enriched language learning environment- five key student support areas • English Proficiency course • Reading program • Provision of dictionaries to students • Blended e-learning

5. Provision of dictionaries to students • Students in extended English Proficiency course are loaned copies of the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary while on course • This assists them with course assignments and with comprehension in their core courses

6. Reading program • Purchase of collections of graded readers for students • Formation of campus book clubs which language students join • Book reports submitted by students as part of English proficiency course • L-100s Reading comprehension program

7. English Proficiency course • Consists of a language instruction manual • As well as workbooks • Assessments

8. So where does e-learning come into the picture? A three tier approach

9. The Three Tiers • Reading comprehension support through the L-100 program • Subject area learning support materials presented in semi-interactive Power Point presentations • Blackboard blended learning integrated with course offerings

10. Successes and Challenges

11. Reading comprehension the L-100 program • Introduced in 2006 • Widely used internationally • Strong on reading comprehension • Self managed, lower workload, better staff efficiency • Teething problems with technical implementation • Requires computer knowledge to operate

12. Subject area semi-interactive Power Point presentations • Experiential: introduced pilot in 2008 • Easy to run on any computer with PP • Easy for anyone to use • Targeted, subject specific • Some technical hitches with advanced PP features

13. Blackboard • New 2009 • Courses in development • Will become central to e-learning elements of courses • Can integrate other e-learning components • Like L-100s it requires some computer knowledge

14. E-learning integrated across two key student support areas • Elements of various learning environments can be incorporated into Blackboard which can function as a management system for student e-learning.

15. English proficiency course • Workbooks have learning modules which can be created in Blackboard • Some assessments in Blackboard • Second language integration into learning materials in Blackboard, with terms and concepts interlinked between target and home language via hyperlinked workbook materials

16. Reading Program • L-100s Reading comprehension program • Students utilize a dedicated e-learning reading program within their English Proficiency course. • This can be accessed via Blackboard

17. Advantages: Blackboard can incorporate • Student e-workbooks • Power Point semi-interactive modules • L100s program can be accessed from Blackboard environment

18. Blackboard challenges • Gearing up staff training • Overcoming tech. issues • New student computer skill levels • Time intensive course development • Limitations of software • Student access to computer labs

19. Blackboard Advantages • Quick assessment and student feedback • Reduced assessment workload • Supports enriched language learning environment • Self-learning

20. Blended approach • Phased introduction of Blackboard • Provision of paper-based backup materials in case of tech. issues during introduction • Continued classroom teaching, reading program, dictionary distribution. • Assessments both in Blackboard and paper based

21. QUESTIONS?