HEAO CALL PROJECT
This Newsletter reports on some of the considerations and results currently obtained in my investigations of the use of multi-media/computers in teaching at the HEAO Arnhem. You will find details about the following issues:
CONTEXT AND PROJECT AIM: improve teaching quality / reduce heterogeneity among students / sell the HEAO internationally:
- Develop tests to assess levels of English at the HEAO
- Initiate the use of CD ROM / INTERNET in classrooms for, initially, remedial teaching.
- Develop contacts with other CD ROM /INTERNET users to exchange experiences.
RANGE Various sections of the HEAO / HAN
INITIATOR: Tom Ammerlaan, English section, but benefits go to other departments and the HAN.
METHODOLOGY AND SOME RESULTS
KUN TALKS resulted in cooperation go-ahead on informal level thru E. Ditters and in close ties in MMS project (approved 2 July 1996). What is needed is a librarian to sort thru the catalogues, brochures, reviews and other mail in orde to make this accessable for various disciplines. I do not have the time left to find out what programmes OPM-lecturers should choose.
Currently I am working together with HAN partners and the KUN to set up the MMS centre and establish what is needed and what is available.
I ATTENDED WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES contacts made for HoloGram RUG, HEAO put on WWW, HEAO member of SunCoo, 2 October COO HBO conference on course development. Interviews at the Agr. Hogeschool Den Bosch, The Haagse Hogeschool, the University of Tilburg library, the Hogeschool Den Bosch, and Hogeschool Zeeland about the use and aplications of Internet/CD ROM.
AutoGramm was obtained from the KUN for free. Appointments made with publishers about DEMO's. Visit from STOAS Wageningen who showed Practice Makes Perfect and other highly acclaimed programmes. Initiated discussion with English, German and Spanish Departments at the HEAO.
DISCUSSIONS WITH HAN ensures cooperation with HAN partners and the KUN, participation in research projects and use of databanks. Discussions wih OO&A about the feasibility of becoming provider ourselves, as done in Groningen by the Hanze Hogeschool: would ave costs, and could form a source of income by selling HomePages to relate industries, alumni etc. as well as E-mail accounts. John Rance and Jeroen Tolmeier are pushing this side.
Survey conducted at the HEAO: 50 odd HEAO LECTURERS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN VARIOUS FIELDS (expressed by German, Legal Studies, English etc.). No classes can yet be conducted because there is no Internet/CD ROM classroom here. Yet. Marijke expects Internet PCs to arrive during the autumn holidays, both in the staffroom and in the Library in Velp.
The IBC wanted to purchase CITO testing equipment. This failed, and a meeting is lanned to iron out any difficulties and sort out the prices.
The English section will discuss the implications of IT usage. It will be a good idea to get into HoloGram: many current programmes are expensive or not fully appropriate. Perhaps better make a custom-made software programe using HoloGram authorware, and the expertise of Sarah Schlijpen (res. ass. at the KUN who knows it inside out and who has just become unemployed...) to make language exercises for English, French, German and Dutch. The programms could be resold to other Hogescholen/HEAO and Bedrijfscommunicatie Department to cover costs....
Rekencentrum is investigating the criteria for being a provider and the hard and software needed.
ISDN lines have been ordered by the library as well as the hardware.
DEVELOPED CALL PROGRAMME CRITERIA available also from SunCoo Handbook as wel as other repots that have een made by Hogescholen and University students.
SOME CD ROM FINDINGS: Guilford Programme best, also review of the STOAS programmes
FUTURE: teach lecturers in CD Rom usage / Internet methodology
TIME SCALE 1 year
INVESTIGATORS T. Ammerlaan
NEW HEAO BUILDINGS: need more PC LABs and direct fibre-optic link to the HAN / KUN
INTERNET cheap alternative by having a local server / fast line to the HAN partners.
I need more WWW access to investigate programmes in detail. I arranged testing room with Ad Sanders: booking of Room 3.04 'Instructielokaar I en A' in Bishop Hamerhuis om sessies op Internet te laten zien!!
ACTION to be investigated in detail (CD Drivers, Sound Cards, IMage cards).
I have now spent 88 hours on the project so far, which far exceeds the budget allocated. I will therefore suspend further activities until I am on budget again. The hours I have been allocated a week are too little.
Please feel free to comment and assist in this project, from which I hope both schools, students and lecturers can benefit.
Tom Ammerlaan (AN)
ACTION
- Contact with Cito Arnhem, Jos Noijens about Adaptor language testing: will send quote to install Adaptor in August for new group IBC (these need to show their TOEFL score certificates anyway).
- Approached various publishers about software for IBC courses
- Obtained IBC software Autogramm on English grammar, thru E. Ditters, for free (provided we add excercises and stuf). Now needs to be installed by R. Visser. If problems, assistance will be given by Hans Zondag KUN (zondag@let.kun.nl)
Please feel free to comment and assist in this project, from which I hope both schools, students and lecturers can benefit.
Tom Ammerlaan (AN)
Send to:
T. Ammerlaan HEAO / KUN A. Sanders, HAN
E. Ditters, KUN E. de Vos-Fruit HEAO
G. Jongeling HEAO T. Sterk HEAO
F. Simons HEAO D. Knol HEAO
A. Weber, HEAO T. van Osch HEAO
S. de Wit A. Rima HEAO
R. Visser HEAO programm J. Olthof, HAN
H. Hendriks HEAO
P. de Haan, KUN Y. Boogaarts, HAN/ HEAO
HAN-werkgroep E. Luursema (TF HG), K. van Meer (HN), F. van Dijk (EF HG), W. Hoogeveen (SF HG)
http://www.cch.nl of the HBO Consortium
http://www.kun.nl/pwp/coo.htm
http://grid.let.rug.nl/~jager/coonl/, the COO Homepage in Groningen.
HEAO CALL-PROJECT
CONTEXT
The HEAO Arnhem currently has two language labs on either of its locations. In addition, the HEAO has 4 PC labs in Arnhem and 4 in Velp. In view of the changing attitude among students towards lectures (i.e. away from monologue lectures towards interactive learning) it needs to be investigated how student motivation can be boosted.
In addition, intake policies at the HEAO have resulted in a greater diversity among its student population. This heterogeneity also expresses itself on the level of proficiency in English. The current teaching practices, however, cannot cater fully for this variety in student levels.
Currently, education and training is developing more towards student-oriented rather than teacher-oriented lectures. In more detail this means the following:
- students need skills in designing, searching and digesting information themselves.
- students need to practise international communication.
- students need to be encouraged to gather, order and digest knowledge.
- students need to be motivated to acquire and order knowledge available to them.
The HEAO so far has largely ignored the current trend towards integration of Internet facilities in its curriculum. Despite investigation by its staff and Information Technology students little has been done to familiarise students with internet communication, databanks and commercial activities. The HEAO does have its own HomePage, but this contains little useful information nor does it contain links to other business related areas of Internet. To boot, the page does provide little information and is difficult to locate.
COMPUTERs in multi-media / multiple media contexts have been used for three reasons:
- computers may reduce staff contact hours.
- computers enable student-centred learning (students are treated as clients (some sign a contract which states the obligations and rights of each party), students expect value for money and love computers, students want to be in control, students want to learn at their own pace and nt feel embarrassed in front of others when they are slow or goofy).
- computers may improve the quality of teaching, by providing access to 'real' situations and when they are guided through the use of computer exercises.
The UK has been ahead for a decade now, having invested seriously in IT / CALL teaching and a result having access to plenty of methods. This could be of major benefit to uus, and thei mistakes do not have to be repeated.
In view of the above I have been asked by the English section (and later by other sections) to investigate the possibilities for introducing Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) / IT in the English Section of the HEAO Arnhem, and to determine the feasibility of a global HAN approach towards CALL. In addition, I have been asked to investigate the use of Internet for teaching purposes, particularly for English to start off with.
COSTS of MULTI-MEDIA CENTRES: SOME CONSIDERATIONS
- Hardware and software need to be bought/leased or produced.
- Security against theft and against breaking into the systems
- Provisions need to be made for student access (e.g. room open at all hours, staff in attendance, timetable for students?)
- administrative and organisational issues (e.g. how can students use the CD ROMs? Can they borrow a disk and how is this administered? Is there technical support for them? Is there a network manager, what menu will you use for the systems?)
- Training: time and money for training staff and the students (handholding).
- Staff hours needed to add exercises, reading materials and update links.
SOME BENEFITS:
- Some reduction in staff contact hours possible, depending on the type of material and how the computer is integrated into the curriculum. The teacher is still invaluable as assessor and guide through the myriad of solutions.
- Students may be attracted by multi-media usage, which improves recruitment and the school's image.
- Increased flexibility in teaching methodology and greater interaction between the student and written information, for instance by simulation and practice of skills, feedback n the extent of comprehension of texts.
- Reduction in deficiencies, more effective testing of skills, rapid expansion of practice sessions.
- Computers may attract external funding (and improve cooperation to other universities).
- open learning can take place (irregular attendance and start at any time is possible now)
- students are in control of their own pace.
- learner motivation has been shown to improve dramatically, particularly in doing drills. Drills have been shown to have long-lasting effects.
- Students learn how to cope with vast amounts of quickly changing information.
- Early training in various programmes used in businesses.
- Some suggestion that computers improve language learning.
COMPUTERS CANNOT BE USED TO:
- replace staff. Teachers still need to select and add material, guide the students and provide feedback.
- be suitable for all students: each has her/his own learning style.
- supplement mainstream teaching: students need to be convinced that their work on the PC is ESSENTIAL to their learning (e.g. by giving marks for their work).
STEPS ON HOW TO START-UP THE CALL PROGRAMME
- student's needs should be clear.
- Management should commit time/money to the project, preferably on a long-term basis.
- the role of the teacher will change and this needs to be discussed: discuss with each teacher what they would like to use and see used in a PC programme.
- material: do you use ready-made material or do you make your own by means of an authoring shell (e.g. Hologram, Sake Jager, RUG)?
- the PC usage should fit in with each teacher's learning style. They need to feel it works and be enthusiastic
- evaluate the relation of the PC to other classroom materials. Integration is essential
- accommodate for different learning styles among the students: Preferably use pairs of students on ONE monitor as this improves the learning quality.
- spread enthusiasm to the other teachers: provide a facilitator who advises teachers and a coordinator who integrates the various efforts. Set up a platform of communication.
- avoid multi-media integrated labs: too expensive and less flexible than having an audio system, a vide, a TV screen and a CD ROM network.
PROJECT AIMS
1. The specific aims of the CALL project at the HEAO are the following:
- provide grammatical support to ESL students on an individual basis, primarily at an intermediate/advanced level. Software should contain both Business English exercises as assistance on grammatical pitfalls. Ideally this should tie in with running courses.
- provide support for the learning of writing skills in English, both in generic contexts as in writing reports, answering correspondence and other business related purposes.
- provide support for the learning of reading skills in English, as far as textual structure, links, cohesion and style are concerned.
- provide support for the learning of listening/speaking skills by providing feedback and exercises.
- provide testing material and software programmes to assess progress being made by the students. This includes the conversion of existing tests into computer-based tests.
In addition, we are looking for programmes that emulate Internet Communication and programmes that familiarise students with accessing Internet Databanks.
PROJECT RANGE
The range of this project go beyond the English section, though English may well function as a spearhead: For French at the HEAO, Evelien De Vos-Fruit and Rolf Straver are investigating possibilities, and also dhr Rolink is looking into computer assisted learning. Andre Weber and Twan Sterk are also looking into computer assisted learning.
- The HEAO Freshman's Curriculum Reorganisation Taskforce at the HEAO is also looking into computer assisted learning, headed by the duo Hermien Hendrikx- Gert Pol. No news of them to date.
- Ger Jongeling, manager of Information Technology at the HEAO, heads an ICT taskforce which looks into the use of computers for various subjects. Recently, the HAN has suggested looking into CALL as well thru Joleen Olthof. No news of them to date.
- The HAN 'COO TASKFORCE', of which Joleen Olthof/Ad Sanders is advisors, met for the first time on 26 April, when the structure was outlined. Siem de Wit is HEAO representative in this Taskforce.
The HAN has an COO Coordinator for the Health Departments: this is Joleen Olthof (024 359 6567, mornings joleen.olthof@bg.hny.nl) who has collected a number of programmes and multi-media PCs. She is also member of the 'COO-HBO platform' in the Netherlands (SUNCOO) who produce a discussion list (majordomo@megavolt.hny.nl subscribe suncoo).
"Wij beschikken binnen de HN over een COO-coordinator (is nu tot de zomervakantie echter om werkredenen even coordinator af). Deze coordinator is heel goed ingevoerd in COO-zaken in het algemeen en in het werk dat we binnen de HN doen (Joleen Olthof, tel 024-3596567, email: Joleen.Olthof@bg.hny.nl)
De HAN wil strategisch beleid ontwikkelen rond het thema van het gebruik van computers als onderwijsmedium. Hierin KAN simulatie een grote rol spelen. Ik heb de volgende namen van personen die in een HAN-werkgroep actief zullen worden: E. Luursema (TF HG), K. van Meer (HN), F. van Dijk (EF HG), W. Hoogeveen (SF HG). Ikzelf mag 'adviseur' spelen..... De werkgroep komt voor het eerst bij elkaar op 26/4/1996 om 9.00 uur in het Bisschop Hamerhuis te Nijmegen (kamer 1.03).
Uit deze informatie valt met enige goede wil af te leiden dat de HAN welwat ziet in coordinatie en onderlinge afstemming...Je kunt ook zien dat de HEAO NIET vertegenwoordigd is. Er was eerst aan -ik dacht- Siem de Wit gevraagd of hij wil deelnemen. Zou jij actie op dit punt kunnen ondernemen zodat er toch een vertegenwoordiger vanuit de HEAO in de werkgroep komt ? Geef zo mogelijk aan bij wie ik zou moeten zijn om alsnog een deelnemer vanuit de HEAO te krijgen...." AD SANDERS, april 1996
METHODOLOGY AND SOME RESULTS
Steps that were taken included:
- collection of useful experiences from other HEAOs in the Netherlands, as well as experts in the areas of pedagogy, applied linguistics and information technology (see http://www/kun.nl/pwp/coo.htm).
Various emails have been sent to relevant departments at the KUN and to other HBO centres (see http://grid.let.rug.nl/~jager/coonl/ for details of COO coordinators in the Netherlands).
Colleagues with information are encouraged to share their knowledge and programmes: this would cut costs and efforts.
Various conferences and workshops were attended in Den Bosch, Nijmegen, Arnhem and Amsterdam.
So far email accounts at the KUN were used to generate information as well as personal time for interviews. In addition, existing labs need to be visited to see the labs in action.
In addition, 43 hours were spent with Dr. Everhart Ditters (u279300@vm.uci.kun.nl) to familiarise myself with the software available. Currently at the KUN PC labs programmes are running in 5 languages.
KUN
For English, a grammar support and testing programme is running, developed locally by Dr. Pieter de Haan (p.dehaan@let.kun.nl). It contains all aspects of grammar dealt with in the (old) Freshmen's English Course of the HEAO. Each item is support by a help screen, and practised via translation. There is a test mode that keeps track for each student how far they have mastered the unit. AutoGramm has been obtaned and will be installed in Arnhem/Velp.
For German is a similar programme exists at the KUN.
French is supported by a KUN business programme which shows fragments of letters, and also practises telephoning skills.
Gather current texts and information via Internet to update exams and pilot the software obtained.
So far 3 demos have been obtained. Dr. Ditters has an enormous library of demo disks, as well as a large database that I have consulted. An appointment has been made to search the database for Business English units and to pilot a number of demos (contact: Hans Zondag, programmer: Zondag@let.kun.nl).
WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
- On 31 May 1996 a conference will be held on CALL and INTERNET at the HEAO Den Bosch. Frank Simons has granted approval for me to attend. Membership Panta Rhei Research team on multi-media issues.
- 10 June : Heao Larensteyn programme by the British Council.
- 13/14 June 1996 the Dutch Society for Foreign Language Technology invited 6 major CALL publishers to demonstrate their goods at the KUN. HEAO representatives were there to talk to June Thomson, head of EUROCALL. We should become member of RECall Journal which reviews software.
- IntEnt 1996 showed a number of presenters of Internet and CD ROM teaching programmes for Entrepreneurships. Contacts made with Universidad Virtual in Monterrey, Mexico (http://www.sistema.itesm.mx/uv/).
- 3 July the HEAO Overleg Informatica organises a symposium 'Internet, De realiteit in de Bedrijfspraktijk en het Onderwijs' at the HES Amsterdam, Wibautstr 84), details: Hetty Beets, fax 010 452 7051.
- 28 August 1996 (28-31) EUROCALL will host a conference on CALL in Hungary. Details to be announced:present will be most English publishers and researchers. People in Groningen have expressed interest in sharing the driving to this conference.
- Panta Rhei organises two Study Days (workshops, lectures, appliations) on 14/15 September next, costing 175,- on Internet in education.
- 2 October: COO HBO Consortium organisers meet at the Hogeschool Domstad in Utrecht to coordinate efforts in various polytechnics.
- 6 October: national COO meeting, 15.00 in Zaal 1.06 CIM RUU, Kromme Nieuwe Gracht 80, Utrecht.
- 30 October exhibition of hardware and software open to anyone in Jaarbeurs Utrecht
- 11 December Workshops in Sreekschool Rijnmond in Rotterdam: latest on CD ROM and Vide, Interactive etc.
Other Software houses could be invited to show their products at the HEAO.
DISCUSSIONS
- investigation of the feasibility of individual student training via CALL at the HEAO.
CD ROM
Discussion with Rob Visser (r.visser@ve.hny.nl) of the HEAO showed there is room on the network, and that a CD stacker would costs about fl. 2600- to install (uses 6 CD ROMS) if it had to be bought separately. Caddy's need to be used for individual CD ROMs to prevent copying. Textual CDs can be mounted in a network without many problems: audio/visual CDs need to be integrated on a quadspeed CD rom drive for each PC pair and sound cards need to be purchased. Hans Zondag, who installed the KUN system is prepared to assist (024 36 11980 or zondag@let.kun.nl) Rob Visser.
There are enough PCs, but they need to be booked through the HEAO Planning and Organisation, to ensure there are hours available to students.
There are CD ROm drives available, and is there enough speed and internal memory in the servers, according to Rob.
INTERNET
Software for Internet classes were discussed in the Info article of 6 June. See also Ammerlaan's HomePage.
My suggestion for internet therefore is that it should be made available initially via a mirror site of some important business locations. This will cut the costs of a 64+kb line, modem and gateway and of course telephone connections (all this provided a linkup with the HAN is not possible). These sites need to be picked up from the servers and parked on the HEAO's own server. In addition, Internet could locally be stimulated by using email communications between staff/students.
HOW TO CONTROL INTERNET AND ITS COSTS?
Several security checks are possible. Best know are: Cyber Patrol (kan block internet access, totally or after hours) and blocks based on lists. Free demo is obtainable from http://wwwmicros.com/cyber/cp_orde.htm
Cybersitter: also blocks certain areas, now based on extensions (e.g. .GIF) and on vocabulary. Free demo on http://www.solidoak.com/cybersit.htm
Net Nanny: blocks access to sites containing certain specified words: very rudimentary though http://www.netnanny.com/netnanny
Off-line use of Internet
Software programmes store websites for students on the hard disk, thus simulating a real internet connection and cutting the expenses of the telephoneline. Downloading is easy with programmes like WebHacker. Free demo can be found on http://www.ffg.com
Secret Agent is another programme which also gives a list of the down-loaded sites. Free demo from http://www.ariel.co.uk/sagent
- Is HEAO staff sufficiently aware of our intentions and are they willing to co-operate?
Letters in the Info have been published in June to tickle the lecturer's tonsils regarding COO and Internet, and offering assistance and classes to clarify matters. Good responses from many sides.
Integration needed of efforts by Ger Jongeling, Siem de Wit and other lecturers of the HEAO is needed, and coordination of efforts to facilitate the CALL project.
An appointment made with Dea Knol and Rob Visser illustrated that many people are investigation the matter without clear indication of who does what.
- what is needed is an investigation of the level of computing skills amongst teachers and their willingness to employ these within the existing courses (not restricted to English or to languages). So far Andre Weber, Rolf Straver, Gert Pol, Twan Sterk, Ger Jongeling seem keen. At the moment only CD ROMs of the fiscal and juridical sections of the HEAO use CD ROMs for texts. They are keen to expand the usage.
A HEAO workshop is proposed, during which the latest language lab skills could be displayed and trained. Nial Galbraith has in principle agreed to opening up the IBC-IBS English programme for grammar assistance through software. I am investigating the use of CALL In my course on English in Information Technology.
- investigation of the existence of software which ties in with current ESL/ESP courses in the various streams.
MULTIMEDIA CONFERENCES:
http://acacia.open.ac.uk/conferences.html
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~pka/oct/events.html
FULL RANGE OF HEAO TOPICS:
- available from Universidad Virtual in Mexico: http://www.sistema.itesm.mx/uv/ contains Entrepreneurship courses in Spanish
- http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~pka/oct/courses.html contains a list of courses on the web
- extensive range on courses on http://www.utexas.edu/world/lecture/ economics, esl french, german, management, management information, public affairs, spanish, statistics, vocational education
HEAO www.duc.auburn.edu/~ellisrs/510.html
- Heao courses: http://cac.psu.edu/~cxl18/trdev/
ENGLISH
Ammerlaan. Currently 81 hours were spent finding various software houses throughout the world. These were e-mailed for detailed information regarding their Business English courses (letter in appendix). Brochures from US and UK companies are still coming in through snail mail These cover a range of topics: maths, history, languages etc.
In addition, I have visited shops in London (Charing Cross rd.) and put my name on the Blackwell's mailing list. Brochures and demos will be sent.
I have set up a project page on my HomePage (coo.htm) to elicit further contacts in SUNCOO and the HBO COO CONSORTIUM.
During COO open days various software packages were reviewed, as well as insights gathered on how to start the project: create the need, use programmes alongside the existing programmes, provide backup books and ensure student facilities are accessible.
Thieu Wilmsen and Yvonne Boogaarts of the HAN, appear to be the COO coordinators for the teaching sections of the HAN (thieu.wilmsen@fe.hny.nl).
ESL / EFL
ESL FUN page found on Internet, with tests, emails, discussion lists, addresses and exercises on http://thecity.sfu.edu/%7Efunweb/ and on HTTP://WWW.ITEC.SFSU.EDU/CGI/ frizzy.htm. Details: email to: funweb@thecity.sfsu.edu.
Information in USA english: "Learning English on the Web" http://www.lang.uiuc.edu/r-li5/esl
Information on English and on UK culture and institutions: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/English_direct
Free Shareware on ftp://ftp.latrobe.edu.au/pub/CELLA/english
Classes on student writing via SL list: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/www/education/sl/sl.html
The Virtual English Language Center, with excersises on fluency, idioms and email addresses of other ESL students: http://www.comenius.com/
Travel to the country where the language is spoken, details on language schools there: http://www.languagetravel.com/wwstud.htm
BUSINESS ENGLISH
Center for Business English for information on IT courses and CD ROM usage: http://www.lydbury.co.uk/besig/
GERMAN
FRENCH
Evelyn De Vos-Fruit
Rolf Straver.
SPANISH
Universidad Virtual in Mexico: http://www.sistema.itesm.mx/uv/.
DUTCH
Twan Sterk, Gert Pol. Flevoland produces a number of interesting programmes for Dutch as a second language. More shown on the 13/14 June workshop at the KUN, like de Haagse Hogeschool stuff.
Some Dutch as L2 classes are found on internet (http://www.kun.nl/pwp/intern.html).
SpelCorrect by Brusewitz, provides texts that need to be checked, letters and helpscreens on problem areas. Also added is SpellingToets to assess the skills in Dutch. This programme is used under licence by the HN, and a fee is paid for the programme and each propeduese student (see Joleen Olthof).
The Hanzehogeschool Groningen uses CD-I programmes 'zakelijk telefoongebruik' and 'klantvriendelijk functioneren'.
MATHEMATICS
Ingrid de Waal
Software allows students to manipulate formula, including differentiating, integrating, producing graphic output optimalisation of numbers and so on.
Software called 'Wiskunde voor het Propedeuse' met HAVO stof en Propedeuse mathematics. Fast feedback ensures very fast learning. From:
Four HBO schools have set up a joint Mathematics testbank, where tests are reviewed, scored and exchanged.
Internet courses on maths are available from http://www.c3.lanl.gov/mega math/
Bijv. MathCad student edition Windows: fl 99.00 tel 02 647 3032 sales@zerosix.nl
Further info: Pieter Hermans Hoheschool Holland, afd Bedrijfswiskunde phe@hh11.hsholland.nl
STATISTICS
Hogeschool Nijmegen has a programme 'Beschrijvende Statistiek" which has proven to be very effective. In addition to exercises students can do several tests to determine their level. Very popular with part-time students.
Hogeschool Larenstein has 5 years of experience in computer-aided stats instruction, using programme developed by the Hogeschool Utrecht.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
JURIDICAL
Ingrid de Waal.
The HEAO legal section has also expressed interest (Ingrid de Waal). They investigate the possibility for COO to improve the students' textual analysis and argumentation skills, either through a framework model in which legal texts can be turned into multiple choice texts or through existing software. Contacts through KLUWER have revealed little so far.
Dutch jurisprudence has been stored on database on a CD ROM, already in use in Velp.
MARKETING
Case-studies are facilitated by multi-media cases in which students view interviews and collect the relevant data themselves. An example is 'Colada', which provides ethical issues and the techniques to discuss these.
'De Zwaan' is a COO programme providing information on what goes on in a middle-sized company (printer's shop). Video's are provided of the tasks of employees, interviews with managers and with a customer. Together with written material the students are encouraged to analyze the company, identify room for improvement, manage this improvement process and influence the company culture. It has been used extensively by the HanzeHogeschool Groningen.
The HAN uses cases in nursing training, and has developed its own software (see Joleen Olthof)
Business Games have also been popular simulations of ongoing issues.
M vd Bosch uses INFECT, a database ofor retail trading on the HEAO in firtst year.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Download free software for lectures and classes: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/langc/welcome.html
BI subjects: http://www.wfi.lk/est/est1.html
LOGISTICS
The programme 'operations research' involves briefs, exercises and tests: only students who pass the tests can continue to the next level. Several cases are stored on CD.
MULTI-MEDIA CASE STUDIES
Collection of lectures through INTERACT http://valley.interact.nl/interact
Simulations: www.meli.dist.maricopa.edu/proj/sln/games/index.html
Hogeschool Utrecht (Utrecht College of Vocational Education) produced a case on a Dutch flower trader : http:/www.sls.wau.nl/~new-bk/dmcase.html
The Case 'the Firm' deals with various aspects of a company http://www.hvu.nl/~dengelman/thefirm/thefirm.html
Lecturers can use the Internet to communicate marks, comments and schedules to their students, as for example on http://riskweb.bus.utexas.edu/fin357.html
Buy own shares on Wall Strewet, and general info on the stock exchange: http://pawws.secapp.com/
Various LOI courses on internet: http://www.loi.nl
List of FAQ about simulation software: http://www.nmsr.labmed.umn.edu/~michael/dbase/comp-simulation.html
http://nmc@ins.gu.edu.au
http://www.now.edu.au/educ/courses/educp9.html#rtftoc22
pitsburg: http://www.lrdc.pitt.edu/
Am. Commu. Assoc.: http://www.uark.edu/depts/comminfo/univ/study.html
Tasm center for university Learning and Teaching: http://www.utas.edu.au/docs/cult/cultpage.html
Also take a look at Ammerlaan's collection so far of internet courses: http://www.kun.nl/pwp/intern.html
EUROCALL has a booklet reviewing the programmes, currently held by Everhard. July Issue of ReCAll provides details on business English.
ON-LINE COURSES ON INTERNET USAGE
http://www.ibcl.hw.ac.uk%80/tltp/wshop/programme.html on building pages, running courses on the net and so on.
How to use the Information highway and not get lost: http://www.sls.wau.nl/~www-ao/distc/roadmap.html
etc.
PUBLISHERS:
Libra Multimedia http://www.libra.co.uk/cdrom_human_languages.html
STOAC Wageningen
InterTaal
DynEd http://www.dyned.com
ReaLife http://www.owd.com/realife.html
- Collection of current texts and information via Internet to update exam structures at the HEAO in order to pilot the software obtained.
John Rance has been very diligent in the collection of such material. The material has shown that the HEAO Arnhem is missing the boat: LOI has started its own Internet course, Deventer is organising a course on Internet for Businesses, Den Bosch even hosted a conference on Internet and CALL on 31 May.
A nat. Dutch CALL conference was held on 13/14 June this year at the KUN, and a HBO follow on will take place in October at the Hogeschool Eindhoven and in Utrecht.
The Hogeschool Nijmegen does not have Internet access for its students, but has a number of trials running in its libraries to see to what extent the system is 'ab'used.
Louis Wilshut of the UvAmsterdam has large collection of CD 'ter inzage' (l.wilshut@let.uva.nl 020 525 4590) Internet addresses: http://www.cltr.uq.oz.au:8000 on CALL and journal (on_call@cltr.uq.oz.au) (peterw@lingua.cltr.uq.oz.au OPEN APPLIC)
1
TYPES OF CALL MATERIAL:
- GRAMMEx (Spanish, French, German) Exercises on grammar, drills
- Discatex
- VISA (integrated system working perfectly at Woolongong University (e.g. student can only sit their exam if they passed 80% in each module, student progress is tracked throughout the system, etc.). NO ANALYSIS SCHEME OF THE TYPES OF ERRORS MADE YET (though see Virginia Scott in article in CALICO on 'Systeme D').
Self-study CD ROMs
Business Talk by LIBRA MultiMedia publ.)
Expressions (French, German, Spanish, BBC English) by Vektor publ. (no MPeg card: 3 programes fl 450,-)
English for Business (highly rated) by the Univ of Wolverhampton (via LaserMedia, 0294 418 033)
Authoring packages
CALL SPECIFIC PACKAGES:
WIDA / Encounters (e.g. storyboard, fun with text)
TELL Materials (like Univ of Hull
Hologram (univ of Groningen)
More difficult programmes for multimedia programming:
Question Mark (very good yet complicate to learn)
Hypertext programmes (like Guide, Poetry Shell)
Multi-media packages (e.g. Toolbook)
Only use these if continual funding, plenty of time is available.
Word Processing Tools
Use Dictionary, Thesaurus Spellers in Word or Word Perfect
Translation Tools (e.g. TransitTiger by TELL in Hull), gives word processing with hypertext links)
Concordance Systems
Using Databases for language learning (e.g. newspapers on Internet/CD ROm, use Internet tutorials)
Using E-mail like FunWeb , WEb for Schools etc (see coo.htm)
Conferencing systems (e.g. First Class, popular)
Presentation facilities
- PowerPoint in producing 'overheads'
- Use text manipulations
Internet resources
Details on EUROCALL pages:
discussion lists for sharing experiences with other teachers, language games, authentic foreign language texts, audio files, shareware fonts, on-line courses, shareware CALL software...etc. (see EUROCALL HomePage)
WHAT PROGRAMME WILL WE USE?
CALL PROGRAMME CRITERIA
- Can business studies students get interested in the programme? HogeSchool Den Bosch has excellent experience in this matter. KUN students use CALL as part of their 'homework', and have ben shown to be very content.
- is the programme suitable for self-study? (user friendly, independent support within the programme, attractive)
- can individual segments be activated?
- in which language(s) are the help screens?
- does the programme offer authentic English in business context?
- can the student test their knowledge and check the test results?
- Does the programme tie in with existing courses?
- Does the programme offer several levels?
(see COO catalogue for detailed criteria lists)
REVIEWS: SOME CD ROM FINDINGS (6 hours)
AURA-LANG (provided by STOAS in Wageningen): pronunciation skills trained on screen via CD ROM video discussions. NEAT
attractive programme, tests pronunciation and provides feedback, intonation training. Several levels (9), user friendly. Exams: dictation, gallows, synonyms, word order.
ENGLISH EXPRESS (by LaserMedia) in cooperation with Guildford univ. 2 types
- PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE company English at MAVO Level (3875,- Mpeg needed)
- PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT : HBO Level (3875,- Mpeg needed)
Tests listening and spoken skills, vocabulary.
Pretest, 5 units of practice, and post test format. Dialogue based, with subtitling to each video segment. Very clear and attractive!
Amounts to about 100 hours of student's work
Back up by written skills in booklet
Cannot be put in a network
Costs: 3000,- plus
BUSINESS ENGLISH ACTIVITIES (Vektor, UK)
More tests. Students watch video and get feedback on their replies. No feedback on pronunciation. No different levels.
FUNCTIONING IN BUSINESS (DYN-ED, USA)
To be reviewed
ENGLISH FOR BUSINESS (univ. of Wolverhampton, Keltic)
Clear, very suitable, authentic. Testing grammar and vocab, no pronunciation. Subtitling of videos possible. Exercises before, during and afterwards.
ENGLISH WORKS 2 (Longman)
Possible too easy for HBO. No exercises, just participation in roleplay, not as attractive as others. Has additional books and workbooks to facilitate integration in regular programme.
ENGLISH BUSINESS (Bertelsman)
Many exercises, many different types, English/German helpscreens, good level.
No pronuciation exercises, simple animation.
CTI HULL has produced several programmes for the UK market.
ENCOUNTERS is a general programme on idiom, pronunciation and grammar. Dialogue based. Teacher directs the student to a module. Provides English language notes, attractive, several exercises. One can select on situations or on grammar issues. Listen to dialogue, add subtitles, imitate segments and feedback on pronunciation, explanations in English. Lower levels.
TIGER is a translation programme to assist acquiring these skills. No dictionary available. Student types his translation and the teacher can mark the versions with icons for suggested improvements. New material can be added: text and electronic hints. Student can after finishing own attempt get a password to see some pre translated versions.
AUTOGRAMM: vi Pieter de Haan/ Arnold Creps KUN: grammar on propedeuse level. Students need to do all modules before being allowed to sit the exam. Dutch helptexts on grammar issues (INFO and HELP). Simple design, modals not yet included.
Possible deal: HEAO tests materials and supplies exercises, in return for no-payment of programme usage.
Contact: P.dehaan@let.kun.nl
DIFFICULTY
VERY LITTLE documentation available on how to creatively employ CALL in the classroom. No recipes for success.
Oxford University has published interesting material
DUTCH
'Camille' programmes on Dutch, Spanish, English and French! Attractive use, designed for Exchange Students to the Netherlands. Adds culture to grammar options, 3 CD ROMs, listening skills tested via minimal pairs, student progress kept track of, record and replay pronunciation. Interesting video fragments. Details http://www.upv.es/~agimeno/ for Spanish, Haagse Hogeschool for Dutch, French http://irlweb.univ-bpclermont.fr/PresLabo/ALAO/Cammille4.html
TAALMEESTER via Start en Flevoleert: interesting for low levels, simple cartoon videos, very popular with students. Tests prior to each chapter: if fail, cannot continue (073 644 1700) Teaches listening skills, speaking and some spelling in Dutch. 3 CD for individual practice, followed by group classes. Follow on is Nieuwe Deuren (Malmberg publ).
Works on Cd-I (299- plus monitor, alternatively a cd-i card for each PC)
SOME FLOPPY FINDINGS
To be done
LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT
CiTO Bedrijfsgroep Talen (026 445 36 39) has an Adaptive language tester: PC programme that automatically adapts the test to the level of each student. Multiple Choice format testing of listening and reading skills, speaking skills assessor to be made (2500.- plus 10,-per student for usage)
- adaptive as far as domains and functions tested.
- flexible in level of difficulty
- has several functions (intake, evaluate, guide, find the weak spots)
Advantages:
accurate, faster than group testing, immediately results can be given, little organisation required, each candidate gets a different test.
Details: Jose.noijons@cito.nl
THE PROJECT'S FUTURE
This is merely a progress report. Plenty of work needs to be done in the future:
Tasks for HEAO teachers is to investigate which skills they would like to see trained in which manner and how often (e.g. Legal, Dutch, French, English, Spanish sections). Colleagues are encouraged to share software and experience thru memos in the HEAO Info magazine. Teachers were found to have strong wishes of their own, and very few programmes match these desires. Currently LEIDEN and GRONINGEN provide framework programmes for teachers to build their own tests and lectures. If such is opted for, then the databank should be exchanged, so that several sections produce material commonly shared amongst HEAO's (commercial option=sell scanned texts, annotated texts, ready made Business English lectures?)
Integration of efforts by Siem de Wit, Ger Jongeling, John Rance, Andre Weber, Evelyn de Vos Fruit, Gert Pol, and myself is needed.
There seems to be a taskforce chaired by Ger Jongeling who could assist in these matters for the HEAO. The KUN has decided to implement a very smart idea. It aims to locally collect and support a series of 6 framework programmes and to develop criteria to assess these. The HEAO/HAN could save considerable sums by cooperating in this scheme.
HEAO - HAN - KUN COOPERATION
Tasks for HEAO management is to investigate the extent to which they are willing to cooperate with the KUN. Do formal contracts exist, allowing HEAO staff to share in the CALL programmes running at the KUN? Can we share software with the HAN members/the KUN and can we use a site license to serve both KUN and HAN/HEAO students? Discussion between F. Simons HEAO and K. de Bot KUN showed informal relations wil remain until difficulties arise. KUN-HAN cooperation could be extremely beneficial: site-licences would cut the costs of purchasing software, the HEAO could utilise KUN-made software, and KUN Bedrijfscommunicatie and Applied Linguistics students could use HEAO experiences to enhance CALL.
Prof De Bot of the KUN has informally showed willingness to cooperate in view of the regional MMS programme (Multi-Media Studies, a new department) which will result in a centre for excellence in Nijmegen.
TIME SCALE
1 year to implement changes.
- Installing CD ROMs on the system would take Rob half a day. The CD stacker needs to be ordered and purchased, as do sound cards for each PC.
- teaching the teachers/ adding HEAO related material. Could be done by Sara Schlijpen, KUN who is a researc assistant in French for the Hologram project there.
- introduce teaching methods while supervising the students in the labs
- students in the lab work independently, but can mail for assistance
- students work independently
The IBS-IBC programme could have an additional CALL module up and running in less time for the 1996-1997 year. For instance, students with particular weaknesses could be advised to review certain sections by means of software on the PCs on site.
The next phase would be to integrate PC use into the course itself, starting with English for Computer Purposes (BIK/BI).
NEW HEAO BUILDINGS
The new HEAO building will need to accommodate the various wishes of its students and teachers. Currently only language labs seem to have been accounted for. However, integration of language labs and computer labs for learning purposes is essential in the multi-media future. I am not sure to what extent the building-committee has taken into account the following:
- Internet connections with HAN partners and the KUN/ placement of own dish or via cable-tv links (TeleMann project KUN).
- network links between PC labs and other offices
- TV links in order to record programmes and screen these in-house (currently, programmes need to be recorded by individual lecturers. There is no library of the recorded programmes nor a catalogue).
- Sufficient PC labs in the proximity of language labs to encourage interactive usage.
- Investigation of the feasibility of floppy-based language labs as opposed to cassette-based labs (e.g. Sony).
- Integration of video machines in the language labs, e.g. via DIDACNET in Weert (email: MARO@pi.net) integrated multimedial language lab.
INVESTIGATORS
Various people at the HEAO Arnhem and the KUN with relevant experience (employees for UTN, Bedrijfscommunicatie, TTWMB-KUN, Joleen Olthof, Hogeschool Gelderland, joleen.olthof@bg.hny.nl) should be involved.
Currently the team consists of Dr. T. Ammerlaan (author of this report), assisted by Dr. Everhart Ditters, COO coordinator at the KUN. In the future, Dr. Pieter de Haan (English) will be involved but we hope others will get on board.
Other potential candidates are:
Dr. Everhart Ditters, u279300@vm.uci.kun.nl
Prof Kees de Bot (u202012@vm.uci.kun.nl), Bedrijfscommunicatie KUN
Dr.Pieter de Haan, p.dehaan@let.kun.nl
Arnold Kreps
Hans Zondag zondag@let.kun.nl
HAN-werkgroep E. Luursema (TF HG), K. van Meer (HN), F. van Dijk (EF HG), W. Hoogeveen (SF HG)
Dr Charles van Os, TTMB, Duits
Dr Bert Weltens, UTN KUN
Cor Seegeren, Onderwijskunde, HAN
Ad Sanders, Informatisering, HAN (ad.sanders@bg.hny.nl)
Rob Visser, HEAO (r.visser@ve.hny.nl) en Siem de Wit, HEAO
Joleen Olthof (joleen.olthof@bg.hny.nl)
Yvonne Boogaarts, HEAO HAN
FUNDING
To be announced. Needed is a facilitator to investigate the needs for each lecturer, a student/research assistant to scan texts and provide links to words in each text, and a coordinator to pull the various efforts together.
For me, thrrteen hours were since June made available for cataloguing, investigating the material, and for teaching/consulting colleagues.
Dea Knol suggests this should go further than sections or departments, but no news yet as to the renumeration for the efforts made. People pass the buck.
TIME INVESTED
Approx. 139 hours have been invested by Ammerlaan in initiating the HEAO CALL project. This is the end of the budget, and I have to wait for more time to invest in the project, allocated by the supervisors.
DATE
02 July 1996
Appendix:
Workshops
In de workshops wordt een aantal Britse coo-pakketten gedemonstreerd
en toegelicht. Er zijn steeds volledige pakketten beschikbaar.
Tijdens de markt kunt u ook zelf met de pakketten werken. De volgende
pakketten worden getoond:
Mathwise - an interactive mathematics software course. Een
uitgebreide leeromgeving voor wiskunde op basisniveau (geschikt
voor aansluitingsproblematiek). Tevens applications modules over
astronomie, aardwetenschappen, discrete wiskunde, bedrijfskunde,
elektrotechniek, mechanica etc.
Biodiversity. Een fascinerend, multimediaal pakket over
biosystematiek, ecosystemen, biologie algemeen enz. Tevens een
kijkje naar het pakket Sonoran Desert, een consument-variant op het
pakket: een ontdekkingstocht door de woestijn.
Multimedia Marketing Learning Programma. Maak kennis met goeroes uit
de marke ting, leer de basisbegrippen van kenners.
C3 - Chemistry Courseware Consortium. Een uitgebreide collectie
oefenmateriaal voor scheikunde, voorzien van vele voortreffelijke
animaties en simulaties. Met chemisch rekenen, organische chemie,
periodiek systeem, spectroscopie etc.
CLASS. Courseware voor studievaardigheden: leesvaardigheid,
leerstijlen, verslaglegging, groepswerk etc. Tevens handige tools
als time management.
STEPS. Een gevarieerde serie coo-pakketten over statistiek, veelal
toegepast op uiteenlopende vakgebieden als biologie, bedrijfskunde en
bodemkunde. Wordt as is verspreid via het WWW, dus vrij beschikbaar
maar geen onderhoud.
TILT. Eveneens studievaardigheden, complementair aan het
CLASS-materiaal. Studievaardigheden algemeen, computerbronnen,
bibliotheek-zoekvaardigheid, etc.
- het CITO heeft een gedifferenteerde test voor Engels om specifieke hiaten en de student nivo's via PC te testen. Dit systeem wordt gekocht voor IBC studenten om de intake te verbeteren.
- CD ROMs kunnen worden gebruikt voor 'tutorials' om probleemgebieden aan te kaarten en te elimineren. AUTOGRAMM van Bedrijfskommunicatie Engels kan worden gekocht (goedkoop) of worden geleend op voorwaarde dat de HEAO oefeningen toevoegd: zie P.dehaan@let.kun.nl voor details.
HOLOGRAMM is een programma voor grammatica/vocabulair, wat door Leiden, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Groningen en zeer waarschijnlijk Nijmegen zal worden ondersteund. Dit Groning's programma zou kunnen worden gekocht, en heeft de ,mogelijkheid tot specifieke HEAO uitbreidingen.
AURALANG heeft een uitspraak programma voor niet teveel geld. Verder details op aanvraag.
Terug naar Tom Ammerlaan