Course Redesign: Elementary Spanish

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Course Redesign Elementary Spanish

• Anne Prucha
• University of Central Florida

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Challenge

• Large institution
• Large number of classes
• Limited classrooms
• Limited lab space

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Course structure

• BEFORE redesign through spring 2008
• Traditional
• Face-to-face, 4 hours (4 credits)
• AFTER redesign starting summer 2008
• Face-to-face, 3 hours
• Outside of class, 1 hour
• Still 4 credits
• Now hybrid

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Plan for redesign

• Task ensure that 1 hour delivered out of class
  be substantive and productive not just extra
  homework assignments
• Decision use My Spanish Lab course management
  system to deliver content and make it convenient
  to students and instructors
• Created modules containing listening, speaking,
  reading and writing activities
• Loaded modules content into course
• Discussed how to assess work done in modules

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Assessment

• Challenge work in modules is instructor graded,
  creating up to 360 separate activitiesper
  classto be assessed
• Decision
• Substitute composition and speaking activity from
  previous course design with some module
  assignments
• Allow individual instructors to decide which to
  grade, which to check as complete, and which to
  use in class activities
• Machine gradable assessment
• Used in student activities manual for homework
  and practice
• Results less grading for instructors, instant
  feedback for students, better student preparation
  for class time

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Student learning

• Students come to class with homework completed
  they can get instant feedback and help outside of
  class
• Student outcomes How are we measuring them?
• Student response What do students think?

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Cost reductions and other advantages

• Department
• Cut down on copying costs
• Post everything online
• Future plans online testing
• Students
• Choice of buying My Spanish Lab with or without
  textbook
• Code is good for 2 years
• Future plans more students choose only online
  textbook
• Institution
• Freed up classroom space across campus
• Future plans request more smart classrooms
• Final Exam
• Hybrid course improved scheduling of final exams
• Future plans online final exam testing

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Challenges

• Technology needs computer, microphone, etc.
• Using My Spanish Lab is required students (and
  instructors) must have access to equipment
• Training some instructors resistant
• Make transition a gradual process
• Provide training and support

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Where do we go from here?

• Refinements
• Future plans

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Contact information

• Anne Prucha
• Instructor of Spanish
• University of Central Florida
• aprucha_at_mail.ucf.edu
• Thank you!