Title: Transitioning to an Online WorkbookLab Manual in a Traditional Introductory Language Course
1Transitioning to an Online Workbook/Lab Manual in
a Traditional Introductory Language Course
- Presented by
- Kristy Britt
- University of South Alabama
2Challenges that caused us to consider Redesign
- Large number of classes (uniformity and
continuity among the various instructors of the
courses) - Large number of students per class (effective,
timely feedback to many students/ instructor
morale and quality of life) - Limited contact time / various course formats
(MWF/TR/15 weeks/8 weeks/4 weeks) - Limited lab space (limited seating and hours)
- Homework (how to grade it---uniformity and
continuity /timely feedback) - Student Population (very diverse/ working/
parenting/ traditional and nonthey need
flexibility with time and have limited financial
resources)
3Results- preliminary findings
- Increased student resources flexibility
- Improved student performance
- Cost reductions and other advantages
- Instructor morale quality of life
- Fall 2008 Pilot results
4Increased student resources and flexibility
- Before Pilot
- LRC
- Tutoring
- Printed lab manual
- Homework activities
- Audio tapes/CDs
- After Pilot
- LRC
- Tutoring
- MySpanishLab
- Homework activities
- Audio available online
- Review activities
- Online flashcards with audio
- Practice tests
- Extra audio/video/web resources
- Online grammar tutorials
- Due date flexibility
- Course calendar
- Integrated features
- Improved clarity regarding progress
- Readiness checks
- eBook
- Glossary with audio
- Verb charts
5Improved student performance
- Before Pilot Fall 07 Spring 08
- (Grades awarded / overall )
- A- 18 / 37.5
- B- 17 / 35.4
- C- 9 / 18.8
- D- 1 / 2
- F- 2 / 4
- F-1 / 2
- Number of students/sections
- 48/2
- After Pilot
- Fall 08
- (Grade awarded / overall )
- A- 28 /38.9
- B- 23 / 31.9
- C- 14 / 19.4
- D- 4 / 5.6
- F- 1 / 1.3
- F- 2 / 2.7
- Number of students/sections
- 72/3
6Cost reductions and other advantages
- Reduced cost to students (50 less!)
- Before Pilot paper text and paper workbook
- After Pilot paper text, eBook, electronic SAM,
glossary with audio, verb charts, audio available
online, review activities, online flashcards with
audio, practice tests, extra audio/video/web
resources, online grammar tutorials, due date
flexibility, course calendar, integrated
features, improved clarity regarding progress,
readiness checks, immediate feedback - Anywhere there is internet, a student may access
his/her MySpanishLab account to - Study
- Refer to eBook
- Work on assignments
- See calendar
- Refer to syllabus
- Contact instructor
- Receive technical support from Pearson
- Monitor his/her progress
7Instructor morale quality of life
- More options for student support and assistance
- More adequately prepared students
- Ease of contacting students
- Ease of monitoring student progress
- 24/7 live chat help feature for technical issues
so the instructor isnt the technical
troubleshooter! - More consistency in grading of homework
- Less time spent grading homework
8Fall 2008 Pilot Student Survey Results
- 2. How does the online component of this course
help you to learn Spanish? Check all that apply. - Response Percent Response Count
- it helps with understanding grammar 83.3 50
- it helps with vocabulary acquisition 85.0 51
- it helps me feel more confident when I speak
23.3 14 - it helps me understand culture 45.0 27
- Other (please specify) 21.7 13
- See Word document for responses
-
9Fall 2008 Pilot Student Survey Results
- 3. Which of the following is most enhanced by the
online component of this course, in your opinion,
with regard to your knowledge of Spanish? Check
all that apply. - Response Percent Response Count
- listening 47.5 28
- speaking 22.0 13
- writing 71.2 42
- reading 71.2 42
10Fall 2008 Pilot Student Survey Results
- 4. How much time, approximately, do you spend
doing the online work on a weekly basis? - Response Percent Response Count
- several hours before each class 20.7 12
- several hours after each class 41.4 24
- I study online only for the test 13.8 8
- I dont need to do the online work 1.7 1
- Other (please specify) 22.4 13
- See Word document for responses
11Fall 2008 Pilot Student Survey Results
- 13. Do you find the feedback/corrections
satisfactory online? - Response Percent Response Count
- Yes, I do because 75.4 43
- No, I do not because 31.6 18
- See Word document for responses
12Fall 2008 Pilot Student Survey Results
- 15. In your opinion, how much does MySpanishLab
help you with this class? - Response Percent Response Count
- very much 61.0 36
- somewhat 33.9 20
- not at all 5.1 3
-
13Whats next?
- Implement across all sections of Introductory and
Intermediate Spanish - Utilize oral component of the program with our
goal being online oral testing - Incorporate writing into regular assignments
- Revise quantity of assignments given (we are
finding that students are spending so much more
time on task than before, we want to find the
optimal amount) - Search for better ways to bring on board the
part-time faculty - Explore offering virtual office hours
14Thank you!