Course Overview

EFL537
Computer Assisted Language Learning
Spring 2008 - Vietnam National University

Instructor: Jeff Lebow
Email address: jeff@efl537.com
Office: Virtual Office at http:/efl537.com/chat
Office Hours & Extra Assistance
'Virtual Lab hours' will be scheduled and we will use a variety of collaborative tools to provide additional support .
Phone: 1-603-574-4923


TEXTBOOK

No print text book will be used for this course. We will use a variety of online materials including:

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides a hands-on, collaborative environment in which to learn about and explore the use of computer technology for language learning. As much as possible, participants are encouraged to use the various technologies we’ll be learning about to develop learning materials that will be relevant to their teaching context. Participants are also encouraged to use these technologies to collaborate with and engage other EFL professionals in learning about the theoretical and pedagogical foundations of CALL. Assessment is based on each student’s portfolio, skills development, and participation (in class and online).

COURSE OBJECTIVES
EFL537 students will be able to integrate the learned theories, pedagogy, and technologies into their practice as learners and educators. Specifically, they will

  • Overcome affective filters that might prevent them from including CALL tools in their teaching.
  • Develop strategies for coping with technological, economic, and/or bureaucratic obstacles they may encounter in practicing CALL
  • Demonstrate competence in basic computer skills including desktop management, web posting and site building, use of CMC, and accessing multimedia files.
  • Familiarize themselves with advanced computer literacies such as producing audio and video materials, creating interactive web based quizzes, accessing materials via RSS, and functioning in 3D virtual environments.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of theory and research related to CALL
  • Produce and test instructional materials designed for their target learners.
  • Use computer technologies to engage in meaningful professional development and develop a personal learning network


COURSE SCHEDULE
Below is a tentative schedule of skills and topics to be covered during this course. It is possible that we will stray from this schedule based on student interest and pace of learning.

Week 1 
Skills: Desktop & File Management, Graphics, Audio, Bookmarking, Telephony & IM, Blogging
Topics: Security, Licensing, Langauge Learning  Areas (Listening,  Reading, Pronunciation, etc.)

Week 2
Skills: Video, Social Networking, Activity Creation
Topics:  Learning Styles, Professional Development, Obstacles, Theory & Research

Required Assignments:
  • Reading Reflections - at least 5 reflections(inluding the ones you've done so far)
    You can choose any reading from the VNUEFL537 Reading list or find others of special interest from the EFL Readings Section
    Try to include a discussion of how the topic of the reading  applies to your teaching environment and how it might affect your practice.  Please post these on EFL537.com as blog entries (create/blog entry). If you like, you can also post a copy of  these on your Edublog or Wordpress blogs.
  • Bookmark at least 25 CALL related websites on your Del.icio.us accunt and tag appropriately. See the del.icio.us guide for information about how to install the del.icio.us plugin and tag bookmarks.
    Feel free to bookmark websites that aren't  related to CALL or this course.  For the sites that are, please tag them with 'efl537' and other appropriate keyword desciptions such as (listening, reading, quiz, video, blog, etc.)
  • Build a Materials Archive
    Create an EFL537  folder (that can be stored on a flash drive) that contains  sub-folders for
    • Documents (.doc , .pdf )
    • Webpages (.html , .htm)
    • Presentations (.ppt ,  pps , .odp)
    • Media (.mp3, .wmv,  .swf)
      Find files that you can use in your teaching and save them in the appropriate folders.  It should look something like this.
  • Build a personal website ( Edublogs.org or Wordpress.com)
    Create a page for ' About Me',  categories for 'EFL537', TEFL Program, and publish at least one post in each category.  Feel free to create additiaonal pages,  categories, & posts.  This is your site and can use it how you wish - during this course and after. 
Optional Assigments
     You do NOT have to do these, but will receive credit for anything extra you produce.
  • Record audio files using Audacity and post them to EFL537.com or your blog. 
  • Post Powerpoint presentations to Slideshare
  • Create a Hot Potatoes Quiz or Activity
  • Become active in a social networking site like EFLClassroom
  • Publish additional reflections and posts on your blog.
  • After the course finishes, submit a report, presentation, and/or audio recording discussing your short-term and long-term plans and possiblities for using computer assisted language learning in your teaching environment.

VNU EFL537 Reading List

This is  a list of suggested readings.  You do NOT need to read them all.  You DO need to write at least 5 reading reflections, so choose the readings  that interest you.  You can also choose your own readings from the sources listed on the Readings page.