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August 2000, Week 1

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Subject:
From:
LLTI-Editor <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 1 Aug 2000 08:48:28 EDT
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text/plain
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--- Forwarded Message from "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]> ---

>From: "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum'"     <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: #5628.8 Lab Experience (!)
>Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 10:53:22 -0400

------------------
        Ronald--
        I'm really interested in the Virtual Lang Lab Project with Teleste
at Cal State. Could you describe please?

        Thanks for the comments.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: LLTI-Editor [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2000 10:26 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: #5628.8 Lab Experience (!)
> 
> --- Forwarded Message from "res04m4j" <[log in to unmask]> ---
> 
> >From: "res04m4j" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: RE: #5628.67Lab Experience (!)
> >Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 06:19:53 -0700
> >Importance: Normal
> >In-Reply-To:  <[log in to unmask]>
> 
> ------------------
> Linda,
> 
> I too am very interested in your design-  I am very interested in the use
> of
> various technologies to produce a transparent layer for which a teacher
> can
> use.  One of the major requirements of this technology layer is user
> friendliness and portability of files.  This is what I feel makes the
> Tandberg solution so viable.
> 
> If we take a wholistic approach to lab design, then one of the pieces is
> of
> course the lab itself and all of the ramifications this brings.
> Additionally, and as an enhancement to the lab would be the implementation
> of up to date authoring stations for faculty use as well as an area to
> explore for media content.  A database of searchable files that are in a
> standard format for use in developing content for the lab as well as
> virtual
> classes deliverable via the web.
> 
> This wholistic approach to language facilities is part of the Virtual
> Language Lab Project that the California State University is exploring in
> partnership with Teleste, Inc.
> 
> Thanks
> Ronald Bergmann
> Technical Services Manager
> CSU Strategic Language Initiative
> 562-951-4748
> 562-833-1192 (mobile)
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of LLTI-Editor
> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 5:59 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: #5628.67Lab Experience (!)
> 
> 
> --- Forwarded Message from "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]> ---
> 
> >From: "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum'"
> <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: RE: #5628.6 Lab Experience (!)
> >Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2000 15:58:18 -0400
> 
> ------------------
> We're a small program: about 150 students, max. We teach five levels of
> ESL.
> Courses offered are oral communication, written communication,
> reading/writing combo for upper levels, conversation, and content courses.
> We have one, two, or three sections of each level, each course.
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: LLTI-Editor [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Friday, July 21, 2000 8:27 AM
> > To:   [log in to unmask]
> > Subject:      Re: #5628.6 Lab Experience (!)
> >
> > --- Forwarded Message from Heather Colwell <[log in to unmask]> ---
> >
> > >Date:         Fri, 21 Jul 2000 01:15:04 -0400
> > >From: Heather Colwell <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Subject:      Re: #5628.3 Lab Experience (!)
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > It would be interesting to know how many students and how many classes
> > this
> > lab serves.
> > Thanks
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 19 Jul 2000 08:12:59 EDT, LLTI-Editor
> <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >--- Forwarded Message from "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]> ---
> > >
> > >>From: "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]>
> > >>To: [log in to unmask]
> > >>Subject: Lab description
> > >>Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 13:04:20 -0400
> > >
> > >OK--here goes. In response to some requests from LLTI participants for
> a
> > >description of our lab.
> > >
> > >University of Miami Intensive English Program Media Center
> > >
> > >        We constructed our Media Center (MC) at the University of Miami
> > >Intensive English Program in August 1999. Each workstation includes a
> PC
> > and
> > >a built-into-the-desk cassette deck. We have a seven-foot oval table
> and
> > >chairs in the back of the room. In the corner of the room we have a
> small
> > >office where the assistant director of the MC sits. That office was
> built
> > >with two large square windows facing the entrance to the lab on one
> side
> > of
> > >the office and the front of the lab on the other side.
> > >        The oval table has worked out well as a study area. Students
> meet
> > >there during independent hours. The office with the windows (no blinds
> on
> > >the windows) invites students to use the assistant director as a
> resource
> > >(an unanticipated dynamic, and something that took quite a bit of
> > adjustment
> > >by our assistant director).  We also have student assistants to monitor
> > the
> > >MC.
> > >        We chose Dell 450 PCs and a Tandberg audio system. The Dells
> were
> > >the recommendation of our IT department. We chose the Tandberg system
> for
> > >several reasons: We didn't like the technical configuration of our
> former
> > >system and we wanted a system whose features were somewhat intuitive
> (in
> > >contrast to the incomprehensible interface and technical manual of our
> > >previous system). After visiting a Tandberg lab, visiting a
> competitor's
> > >lab, and watching a demonstration from a third manufacturer, we found
> > >Tandberg's software and hardware to be the best. I posted questions to
> > other
> > >lab managers on the Web and got positive reviews of Tandberg
> performance
> > and
> > >a few complaints (one very serious) about the technology of one of
> > >Tandberg's closest competitors.
> > >        We needed our lab built (total room renovation included),
> wired,
> > and
> > >ready to go in three weeks (during a semester break). Since we had this
> > >tight timeframe, and since ergonomics were an important aspect of the
> > lab,
> > I
> > >chose Synsor furniture, which has a sleek Scandinavian look, but a
> > studious,
> > >old-fashioned library look at the same time. Another motive for
> choosing
> > >that furniture is that Tandberg is a distributor. That fact reduced the
> > >chance that the technical equipment wouldn't fit the furniture, thus
> > >minimizing the chances of the furniture being set up, and then finding
> > that
> > >things didn't fit, having to reorder and redesign, etc. The furniture
> > worked
> > >out perfectly. We have thirty carrels that are semi-enclosed by
> dividing
> > >side panels that are lined to reduce noise, and a plexiglass, numbered
> > front
> > >panel.The PCs have MS applications, access to instructional software
> > (from
> > a
> > >Dell server and a Meridian CD Net 14-bay CD server), Internet access,
> and
> > a
> > >stability device called Centurion. The Centurion has been critical to
> the
> > >success of the lab. Essentially, it partitions a temporary drive for
> > student
> > >use. When the system is rebooted, the system refreshes itself. We are
> > >currently testing another product, Fortres, which has one big advantage
> > over
> > >Centurion, i.e., we can stipulate one area on the hard drives of each
> > system
> > >that won't be refreshed when rebooted. We also have a Hewlett Packard
> > >LaserJet 8000 N printer, which has proved to be perfectly adequate.
> > >        Our teachers bring classes into the Media Center as a regular
> > part
> > >of the curriculum. The Tandberg system is controlled from the teacher's
> > PC,
> > >as any traditional language lab. In other words, the tape decks are
> > stopped,
> > >started, etc., by the teacher using the Tandberg interface. It can also
> > be
> > >set in library mode so that students can individually control their own
> > tape
> > >decks. It has all the features that our teachers requested, and more
> > (e.g.,
> > >pairing students randomly or by selection, group conferencing,
> > telephoning,
> > >distributing a tape that's in the teacher's console to all or a group
> of
> > >students in the lab; testing with the teacher's voice as the program
> > source
> > >and students recording from their carrel's cassette desks; testing with
> > >tapes as the program source, etc.). Students are also free to come into
> > the
> > >Media Center to study independently. We keep the lab open three to four
> > >hours after classes and an hour before classes. For independent study,
> we
> > >added a Tandberg product called the Divace (soon to be updated to the
> > >Tandberg "Duo" we hope), which we purchased experimentally and
> installed
> > in
> > >one row of our lab. The Divace (that's a Tandberg acronym) easily
> > digitizes
> > >analog tapes, compresses them with the same interface, and puts them on
> a
> > >server. (I no longer have to worry about one tape out of the set of six
> > >that's missing since the digitized "data" is duplicated on the server).
> > >Another feature is that it has two tracks. In other words, a student
> can
> > >independently come into the lab, sit at a system with a Divace, open
> the
> > >interface, select a "tape" (now in digitized form) or digitized video,
> > >listen, record his or her own voice (which would destroy an analog tape
> > on
> > >another system) and listen to his/her own voice. The Divace is
> > >user-friendly, as are all the Tandberg interfaces. Our server is very
> > small,
> > >only about 10 gb, but we plan to add another 10 gb. It's runs Novelle.
> > >When the teachers came back from their break to face a new system, they
> > >panicked. After looking at other manufacturers' interfaces, I think it
> > >probably would have been worse. After the first semester of Tandberg
> use,
> > >the teachers felt comfortable, and they are using most of its features.
> > >Students congregate here because the workstations are well
> > >designed--conducive to whatever they want to do (study alone,
> collaborate
> > >with the person next to them, use the PC and/or cassettes, watch a
> > video).
> > >They study independently more than ever, often using our Divaces.
> > >        We have four TV monitors attached to the ceiling from which we
> > >project the videos (controlled at the teacher's workstation through the
> > same
> > >Tandberg interfaces). We also have a "Vizcam," essentially a camera
> that
> > >projects but doesn't record. It's great to use not only as you would
> use
> > an
> > >overhead projector (better because it projects on the TV monitors and
> you
> > >can project any image--your hand, a page from a book, rather than
> having
> > to
> > >use transparencies) but also because students can do presentations and
> > >appear on "TV," which seems to inspire them.
> > >        The equipment almost never fails (teachers will claim technical
> > >malfunction occasionally, but it is almost always pilot error). Things
> we
> > >plan to add: a cable connection to run CNN at lunch time and lots of
> > >web-based, teacher-authored material.
> > >
> > >Linda Cahill, PhD
> > >Assistant Director for Learning Resources
> > >University of Miami
> > >Intensive English Program
> > >[log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: john w harris [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > >> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2000 9:42 AM
> > >> To:   Cahill, Linda E.
> > >> Cc:   Ursula Williams
> > >> Subject:      Re: #5628.2 Language Lab experience (!)
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Tue, 18 Jul 2000 08:01:56 EDT LLTI-Editor
> > <[log in to unmask]>
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > --- Forwarded Message from Ursula Williams <[log in to unmask]> ---
> > >> >
> > >> > >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > >> > >References: <[log in to unmask]>
> > >> > >Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 14:13:42 -0500
> > >> > >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information
> Forum
> > >>
> > >> > <[log in to unmask]> >From: Ursula Williams
> > <[log in to unmask]>
> > >> > >Subject: Re: #5628.1 Language Lab experience (!)
> > >> >
> > >> > ------------------
> > >> > >--- Forwarded Message from "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]>
> > ---
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Linda,
> > >>
> > >> I second Ursula's interest in your program and want to know your
> answer
> > to
> > >> her
> > >> question, "What's your secret?"
> > >>
> > >> John
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > >
> > >> > >  >From: "Cahill, Linda E." <[log in to unmask]>
> > >> > >  >To: "'Language Learning and Technology International
> Information
> > >> > >Forum'"     <[log in to unmask]>
> > >> > >  >Subject: RE: #5628 Language Lab experience
> > >> > >  >Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 16:17:10 -0400
> > >> > >
> > >> > >------------------
> > >> > >Our lab is the most popular aspect of our program. Would you like
> a
> > >> detailed
> > >> > >description of the lab/program? Would that help?
> > >> > >
> > >> >
> > >> > I for one would love to hear more about this, Linda. We have an
> > >> > active lab at Notre Dame, but not as active as I would like to see,
> > >> > given the large number of students completing foreign language
> > >> > courses. There are always methods and strategies to promote the use
> > >> > of the lab, and to make it more effective. Indeed I have a list of
> > >> > benefits that I routinely quote when asked (and sometimes when
> not!)
> > >> > But we are a long way from "most popular." What's your secret?
> Maybe
> > >> > you could share with the list?
> > >> >
> > >> > Ursula
> > >> >
> > >> > --
> > >> >
> > >> > Ursula Williams http://www.nd.edu/~uwilliam
> > >> > Director
> > >> > Language Resource Center http://www.nd.edu/~lrc
> > >> > 201 O'Shaughnessy Hall
> > >> > University of Notre Dame
> > >> > [log in to unmask]
> > >> > Notre Dame, IN 46556-5639
> > >> > 219.631.5881
> > >>
> > >> ----------------------
> > >> John Harris
> > >> Orlean Bullard Beeson Professor of Education
> > >> & Associate Provost for Quality Assessment
> > >> Samford University
> > >> Birmingham, AL 35229-7020
> > >> (205) 726-2674
> > >> (205) 726-2908 FAX
> > >> [log in to unmask]

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