Course Overview

Faculty Name:  Jeff Lebow

Email address:  j.lebow@snhu.edu 

Course Website:  SNHU Blackboard and http://efl537.com/    

Office:  Virtual Office at http://efl537.com/office

Office Hours:   The instructor will be available one hour before class time for extra assistance or lab time.  Additional hours (virtual and face to face) will be arranged based on the schedules and needs of students.

Phone: (603) 574-4923  Skype: jefflebow

REQUIRED MATERIALS

There are no required textbooks for this course. All reading materials will come from online resources listed at http://efl537.com/readings and http://learningcall.net/readings
Students are required to have a USB flash drive for data storage and transfer.  These are available at the SNHU Bookstore as well as the local Walmart & Kmart. Any storage size is acceptable.

COURSE PREREQUISITES

The equivalent of a United States Bachelor’s degree and 550 TOEFL score paper - based, or 213 on the computer-based test for a non-native English speaker.

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 theory, pedagogy, and application of CALL.  Assessment is based on each student’s project 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.
  • 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.
  • Produce and put in to practice instructional materials designed for their target learners.
  • Use computer technologies to engage in meaningful professional development and build a foundation for further development and actualization of CALL related practice. 
  • Develop strategies for coping with technological, economic, and/or bureaucratic obstacles they may encounter in practicing CALL
  • Demonstrate an understanding of theory and research related to CALL

COURSE EVALUATION CRITERIA

  Skills Assessment 25%
  Reflections 25%
  Content Production 50%


 

Skills Assessment   25%
  • Badges - 15%
  • Skill Quizzes - 10%
  

Badges are earned by demonstrating proficiency in specific computer skills. Some are mandatory, others are elective.  More information at http://efl537.com/badges  We will also have two short timed quizzes to assess student mastery of mandatory skills. 
Reflections 25%
  • Blog Reflections - 10%
  • Resource Reviews - 15%
  

Blog reflections are short (1-2 paragraph, 1-2 minutes of audio) posts on efl537.com in which students share thoughts and feeling related to their CALL journey. One reflection is due each week by Sunday night.   

Resource reviews are 3-5 paragraph reactions to substantive readings & media selected from the reading list at http://efl537.com/readings/  http://learningcall.net/resources, .or found elsewhere online. Each review should focus on a specific CALL topic and review either several related resources or one lengthy piece.  Reviews can be posted as blog entries on EFL537.com or on students' Wordpress.com blogs.  After posting the reviews, students will discuss the review and its related topic in class. Students will need to complete three resource reviews during the course, each worth 5 points
Content Production 50+%
  • Web Presence – 10%
  • Assignments- 10%
  • Learning Materials   15%
  • Topic Presentation 15%
  • Project  ??%
  

Students may work with a partner for some of these activities, but expectations will rise accordingly. 

Web presence includes a personal space (blog, wiki, google space, html site, etc) and any other social networking or social bookmarking activity.  The content and style of your personal space is largely up to you, but should include 'welcome/about' page, a CALL Toolkit, and links to all your EFL537 activity.  Personal spaces can be published using a pseudonym if you wish.

Assignments include assorted in-class and homework tasks.

Learning Materials - Each student must produce CALL materials that can actually be used in their likely teaching environment.  These can be developed for a face to face computer lab or an online learning situation and should include a lesson plan or some kind of teacher guide. If at all possible,  students are encouraged to use these materails for instructional purposes before the end of the course.. 

Presentation ( CALL Topic Instructional Unit )       – Each student must make at least one topic presentation about a CALL related dimension, language skill, or technique.  (see http://efl537.com/topics). The week before the presentation, the student should briefly introduce the topic and assign one required reading or resource along with additional related resources.  The presentation should last between 15-30 minutes and include visuals (powerpoint, video, and/or web tour) and  be followed by some kind of class discussion or activity. Each presentation is worth 15%.  Students working with a partner will need to make two presentations. 

Projects -  Students have the option of working on extra CALL related projects of their choosing. Examples include producing a podcast, engaging in online Professional Development,  interviews with CALL  researchers, practitioners, and learners, and any other meaningful activity related to CALL


ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students will lose one percentage point for each absence.  Missing more than 30 minutes of class (late arrival, early departure, 'extended' breaks)  will result in losing half a point.  In case of  weather conditions that prevent the class from meeting, we will plan to have a ‘virtual class’.  Students should stay tuned to EFL537.com for updated information in such a situation.

CLASS  SCHEDULE

5:00~6:00pm   Office Hours/Lab Time [optional] - an opportunity for students to work on projects in the computer lab and/or speak with the instructor about issues or questions they have (technical and otherwise)
6:00~6:45pm   Topic Discussion / Student Presentations
6:45~7:30pm   Skills Training
7:30~7:45pm   Break
7:45~8:15pm   Assignment Prep / Group Trouble Shooting
8:15~9:15pm     Materials Development & Lab Time – Students can work on projects, collaborate with each other, and seek technical assistance from the instructor.

 

Weekly Course Outline here

(for more up-to-date lists of assignments and topics, please use the Course Materials section of EFL537.com )

 

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