Teacher Education in CALL
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Chapter 16.
Teacher
Preparation for Online Language Instruction
Christopher M. Jones and Bonnie L. Youngs, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
Abstract
Though literature in the
area of general online instruction is now widely available, the preparation
required of teachers for an online language instructional environment is little
understood. The multiple definitions of “online” are part of the issue, in that
the instruction described varies from enhancements of classroom teaching, to
hybrid courses (mixed online and face-to-face), to fully Internet-based distance
teaching, though this last type is still relatively uncommon for languages.
Certain technologies imply new methodologies; others require no more than a
transfer of an existing methodology into a new medium. This chapter combines an
overview of the issues involved in preparing teachers to teach languages online
with a report and case studies based on the Language Online project at Carnegie
Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Language Online is a grant-funded
project to deliver basic French and Spanish language instruction via the Web in
a hybrid form.
Notes available online
1 The checklist is available at http://ml.hss.cmu.edu/facpages/cjones/TrainingChecklist.pdf.
2 The questionnaire is available at http://ml.hss.cmu.edu/facpages/cjones/TeacherQuestionnaire.pdf.
References available online
Coughlin, M. 2004. “Facilitating online learning”. Available at http://users.chariot.net.au/~michaelc/olfac.html.
Galusha, J.M. 2004. “Barriers to learning in distance education”. Available at http://www.infrastruction.com/barriers.htm.
Hampel, R. and Hauck, M. 2004. “Towards an effective use of audio conferencing in distance language courses”. Language Learning & Technology 8 (1): 66-82. Available at http://llt.msu.edu/vol8num1/hampel/default.html.
NETS (National Educational Technology Standards). Available at http://cnets.iste.org/teachers/t_stands.html.
Toyoda, E. and Harrison, R. 2002. “Categorization of text chat communication between learners and native speakers of Japanese”. Language Learning & Technology 6 (1): 82-99. Available at http://llt.msu.edu/vol6num1/TOYODA/default.html
Wimba. Audio b-boards and other educational products. Available at http://www.horizonwimba.com.
Updated September 12, 2006