Transitioning to an Online WorkbookLab Manual in a Traditional Introductory Language Course

1
Transitioning to an Online Workbook/Lab Manual in
a Traditional Introductory Language Course

• Presented by
• Kristy Britt
• University of South Alabama

2
Challenges 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)

3
Results- preliminary findings

• Increased student resources flexibility
• Improved student performance
• Cost reductions and other advantages
• Instructor morale quality of life
• Fall 2008 Pilot results

4
Increased 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

5
Improved 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

6
Cost 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

7
Instructor 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

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Fall 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

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Fall 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

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Fall 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

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Fall 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

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Fall 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

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Whats 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

14
Thank you!

• Questions?