Foreign Language Technology at Edgewood College

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Foreign Language Technology at Edgewood College

• Ian Davies, Ph.D.

2
Introduction

• What follows is a brief statement of the needs
  and possible future directions for the uses of
  technology in the Department of Foreign Languages
  at Edgewood College.
• Prepared by Ian Davies, Associate Professor of
  Spanish
• Following from attendance at MWALL Conference, UW
  Madison, 13-14 October, 2000
• www.iall.net/mwall (Midwest Association of
  Language Learners)

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Topics of Discussion

• What are our departments goals in the uses of
  technology?
• What are our current capabilities?
• What infrastructure and equipment does Edgewood
  College already offer elsewhere on campus that we
  can incorporate into our teaching?

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Goals

• To make our materials available in digital format
  for distribution to as many students as possible
  via WWW, CD ROM, e-mail, etc
• To facilitate electronic communication between
  students and faculty
• To archive digitalized materials (portfolios,
  presentations, etc.)
• To offer students virtual access to materials 24
  / 7.
• To ensure and facilitate faculty access to E.C.
  web server.

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Current capabilities

• Analog language laboratory (approx. 12 years old)
  with 20 audio booths, plus 4 computers with CD
  ROM and audio capability.
• T.V., VCR and overhead projector in all
  classrooms department slide projector,
  boom-boxes and hand-held cassette recorders.
  Commercial software from publishers on CD ROM.
  Video cameras available from A/V pool.
• Student performance can be taped and recorded.

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Edgewood Colleges existing infrastructure.

• What equipment exists already on campus that we
  can utilize in improving pedagogies and services
  for our students?
• The MWALL conference talked about existing and
  emerging technologies designed specifically for
  language professionals.
• The relevance for Edgewoods programs in French
  and Spanish is enormous because of the
  implications for increased access to, and
  portability of, many different language learning
  materials.

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Do we have on our campus?

• Digitalizing audio and video software (e.g Sound
  Forge, Win Amp)?
• CD burners, with ripping software (e.g. Adaptec)
• DAT recorder
• Mixers recording room/ booth
• Computers with capture cards for receiving
  digital input
• MP3 player and compressor
• LAN access for discrete service to our campus

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Do we have on our campus?

• A souped-up server that will handle digitalized
  and streamed materials
• A streaming server separate from the web server
• IFS space for our students
• Scanners and software for digitalizing slides and
  photos
• Video conferencing capability via the Internet
  (beyond just Badger Net in Sonderegger)?

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National trends for the language laboratory-

• shift to multimedia computer labs with language
  applications
• no longer a dedicated space,traditional labs are
  being dismantled and carted away, their functions
  being moved to different multi-use labs
• does there have to be a lab anymore, or do the
  functions migrate to the dorm-room, the bed-room,
  the lap-top, i.e. the virtual lab?
• the old listen-record function is going out of
  style
• Audio-lab activities can still be done via
  computer software and the web (pair-work,
  intercom, telephone simulation, etc.) (Divace,
  TalkMaster)
• Wireless labs are coming into view
• Faculty want to do what theyve always done, not
  learn totally new pedagogies

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What This Means

• Edgewood faculty need to be conversant with new
  trends and the possibilities for more virtual
  pedagogy
• Assignments and quizzes could be uploaded to the
  server for student access 24 / 7.
• Digital audio could be placed on department/
  faculty web-sites for student access (e.g a song,
  a news bulletin, a student conversation)
• Materials have a much longer shelf-life
  (preservation)
• Materials are far more portable, and can migrate
  between formats
• Software can be leased,not purchased

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Next Steps

• Invite a consultant to campus to assess our
  capabilities and needs.
• Meet with Computer Services staff to update and
  better understand our current situation
• Rewrite our 2000/ 2001 budget request with
  consultants recommendations in mind.