eLearning the Skill of Writing with AWLA

1
eLearning the Skill of Writing with AWLA

• Pedro Pablo Sánchez Villalón
• I Seminario de Aprendizaje de Lenguas EEES
• UCLM, Facultad de Letras,
• Ciudad Real, 28-30 Nov. 2005

2
Overview

• 
  Languages ICT

Technologies
WWW
Receptive
Browsing
Reading
Listening
_at_
Writing
Language
Interaction
Speaking
Productive
Face-to-face
Communication
Information
3
Introduction

• Language Learning ICT
• EU eLearning Program
• developing skills such as the ability to
  communicate, to work in group, and to make use of
  the new technologies for all this. (EU
  Commission, 2002).
• Conventional Environment -gt CALL LMS -gt TELL
• Features synchr/asynchronous, ubiquitous
  scenarios
• The Web as a Reading Resource
• surfing/browsing, searching, selecting, reacting
• The Web as a Writing Pad
• editing, collaborating, publishing, interacting
• The Web as an eLearning space
• The AWLA System Collaborative Writing Process in
  eLearning Scenarios Skill-based Writing Tasks

4
Infrastructure

• AWLA
• A Web-based Learning Appliance
• running on Scenarios
• Software DHTML Perl CGI on Web (Wiki-like)
• Hardware PC Mobile Wireless computing
• Environmental conditions
• Ubiquity
  (place in-school/out-of-school)
• Communication Synchronicity
• (time same/different)
• Social Interaction (individual/collaborative
  learning)
• Focus on Participants
• students as users, with roles.
• teacher as learning designer, guide evaluator.
• Allowing the Writing Process
• Not an LMS, but it allows content management
  learning design, information access,
  communication by writing on the Web.

• No installation required
• Client/Server interaction

5
Methodology

• Goal focused on Learning Approach
• Learning by writing (aimed at languages and other
  disciplines involving writing)
• Writing process, based on tasks (scenarios)
• Adaptable to disciplines, languages, levels
• Blended learning (the teacher is essential)
• using content, quizzes access to information
  (CAI)
• and Writing Practice communication
  (interaction) helps to internalize information,
  to build knowledge, by learning to write by
  writing
• Vygotzkys constructivism Paperts
  constructionism

6
Analysis of Content- vs Skill-based Language
Learning

• Skill-based Language Learning
• (Enlaces en EOI)
• Reading
• WebQuests WebQuest.org
• Reading Comprehension
• ACE, CNN, BBC
• Listening
• ESL CyberLab
• WebCasts
• With Watching Video CNN,BBC
• Speaking (VideoConference , no application to
  eLearning)
• Writing (tutorials email)

• Content-based Language Learning
• Courses Textbook Materials
• Dictionaries, Grammar OALD, Cobuild
• AudioVisual Materials
• Software Programs
• Diskettes, CD-ROMs, Installable Software
• Tools WIDA-Software (MS-DOS)
• Content ToolsHot Potatoes
• Internet
• Content a4esl.org,
• Reference Dict., Grammars,
• Content Tools ExerciseMakers

• Communities of practice
• A set of learning resources
• European Schoonet
• AWLA

• Learning Management Systems
• A repository of content administrative
  resources
• Blackboard WebCT

7
Writing services on the Internet

• (Not for structured or guided learning)

• E-mail
• ePals.com
• MyLanguageExchange
• Bulletin Boards/Forums
• phpBB on Websites
• On the Web
• Blogs (individual)
• Wikis (collaborative)
• MS SharePoint (proprietary)
• (Guided learning)
• AWLA

Communication
1 -gt1
1 -gtgroup
1 -gtmany 1lt-gtmany 1lt-gtgroup
1, group lt-gtmany, teacher
8
Interface

• Users (learners) access facilities
• Easy entrance to the Website
• Easy, fast access to reading, writing and saving
  text information
• Collaboration (New Idea)
• Convertible to Word format
• Access to corrected version
• Editable with images (multimedia)
• Permanent display of the task ------------?
• Access to additional contents ?
• ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
• Access to language tools (menu)
• Access to communication facility Chat based
  on the task channel

9
Future developments

• Integration into
• WebQuests
• Virtual Learning Environments
• AIOLE
• CIVI-ERASMUS
• Localization to languages other than English
• Spanish German (already functional)
• Italian French (coming soon)

10
WebQuests
11
AIOLE CIVI-ERASMUS VLE
12
AWLA German Spanish Interfaces
13
Conclusions

• The Web as a Writing Pad for Learning
• The AWLA Appliance a set of online resources for
  learning with language.
• Collaborative Writing Process in eLearning
  Scenarios Skill-based Writing Tasks with
  designed conditions and actions (activities) to
  learn
• Contribution authentic,adaptable, flexible,
  blended learning.
• Not an LMS, but it allows content management
  learning design, information access,
  communication by writing on the Web.
• And our next goal is to integrate these scenarios
  in VLEs
• AWLA Website http//chico.inf-cr.uclm.es/ppsv/awl
  a.html