--- Forwarded Message from "David Flores" <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 16:28:47 -0500
>From: "David Flores" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Language Labs Living On Borrowed Time?

Our principal Spanish textbook is going to its 6th edition this Summer,
and following a trend I've noticed with many FL textbooks lately: the
workbook and much of the audio/video content that was traditionally
housed in Language Learning Centers is being placed on the web.

If this trend continues, much of our raison d'etre simply vanishes into
cyberspace. Sure we still schedule and show foreign language films in
our in-house theatre. Sure we still provide video production and editing
facilities for classes that might have a short film project as an
assignemnt. Sure we are open for instructors to run headset-based,
interactive class sessions. But most of the use our lab sees... let's
face it... is due to students completing their lab manual assignments
and listening to the audio-tracks that are stored locally on our
server.

So how many of you guys are worried about your labs disappearing in 5
or so years? And have you any thoughts on how to keep the lab relevant
even if textbook manufacturers move most of their audio/video content
online?

David Flores
Director: Language Learning Center
Loyola College in Maryland
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210
Ph: (410) 617-5230
Fax: (410) 617 2859

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