|
|
Internet-based Language Learning
|
| General | Software | VLEs | Weblogs/Blogging |
Flexible Language
Acquisition Project (FLAX). A repository of
exercises for English teachers and learners, incorporating
social networking features (eg discussion, chat) for
peer-to-peer communication amongst students. The software
is Open Source, with an interface configurable to any
language (including non-Roman scripts). There's also a
FLAX Moodle plugin. It's currently available for for Linux
and Mac OS, with Windows to follow.
Internet for Modern Languages. This tutorial covers the key information skills for language teachers and researchers using the Internet. Learn how to use the Internet to help with your coursework, literature searching, teaching or research.
LTSS Guides. A series of guides to learning technology produced by the Learning Technology Support Service at the University of Bristol. Topics covered include implementing and evaluating learning technology, computer-mediated conferencing, virtual learning environments, and teleconferencing for learning. Although slanted towards users at Bristol, the guides are generic enough to be useful for any teacher in higher education.
Mixxer: Language Exchange online via Skype. A free exchange bringing together language learners and teachers in tandem learning via the VoIP technology Skype.
ReLaTe: Remote Language Teaching using videoconferencing. A joint project of the University of Exeter and University College London, UK.
Reports on videoconferencing in the Language Classroom. Links to reports, websites and papers on the use of VC in foreign language teaching.
SLOAN-C. A resource
centre for teachers interested in the use of
Internet-based teaching and learning.
Teaching with the web. Page with various ideas and pointers for using the web as a teaching resource.
Telecollaboration. Resources for foreign language teachers using internet communication tools for teaching and intercultural exchanges.
What a Site! Finding, Evaluating, and Integrating Web Sites. A sort of 'tutorial' for educators using the WWW as a teaching resource, to help them meaningfully integrate Internet materials into their teaching rather than just providing students with a "laundry list" of hyperlinks.
Downloadable software which can be used to create browser-based exercises
Half-Baked Software. The developers of the freeware Hot Potatoes suite, which allows authors to create a range of interactive browser-based exercises using Javascript without the need for any prior HTML or Javascript knowledge. An excellent piece of software, and highly recommended. The team have also developed Quandary, with which you can create "Action Mazes".
Spellmaster. An online authoring tool which enables you to create simple browser-based timed vocabulary exercises (JigWord, MatchWord, SpeedWord) which you can save to disk and use on your students. You'll need the Flash 5 plugin as the exercises are created as Macromedia Flash files.
Webauthor. Create interactive exercises by filling in forms on the website. The exercises are stored as CGI scripts on the Webauthor server.
Also known as Managed Learning Environments (MLEs).
coMentor. A collaborative web-based virtual learning environment. The software runs on Unix servers, is accessible to all Java-capable browsers, and is free to UK Higher Education institutions.
COSE Virtual Learning Environment. An online learning environment, developed at the University of Staffordshire, UK, which is now available with a free licence (from 21/6/02), and which will shortly be Open Source. The site contains the binary downloads, plus extensive support documentation, case studies, reports, and a FAQ. COSE is committed to interoperability via conformance with IMS specifications.
Moodle. An Open Source VLE project, with strong language support (available in 34 languages) and based on social constructivist pedagogy. The strongest competitor to proprietary commercial VLEs, and in extensive use in education across the world.
Sites related to weblogging (or 'blogging' if you must) for both general and languages audiences. Suggestions for sites, articles and papers dealing specifically to weblogging and language learning/teaching would be very welcome.
The Art of Blogging. A good, considered introduction for beginners to what the hell 'blogging' actually is and how useful it can be, full of useful tips and references, and links to weblogging resources such as tools and blog servers. An excellent 'how to' starting point for the weblog neophyte.
Into the Blogsphere. A title that sounds like a crass 1950s B-movie, but a site that contains serious analyses and critiques of weblogs and weblog communities, including studies of the pedagogical value of weblogs.
