--- Forwarded Message from Karam Marie E <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 13:48:01 -0400 >From: Karam Marie E <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: #6649 Beginning Spanish FIPSE >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> ------------------ Rachel- Since I must review and rate all beginning Spanish materials on the market as coordinator of all Elem. level Spanish courses here at the University of Scranton I am interested in evaluating these proposed materials. If I can be of help let me know. Marie Karam, Director Language Learning Center University of Scranton ----- Original Message ----- From: LLTI-Editor <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 1:58 pm Subject: #6649 Beginning Spanish FIPSE > --- Forwarded Message from "Rachel E. Saury" > <[log in to unmask]> --- > > >Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 14:12:46 -0400 > >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information > Forum <[log in to unmask]> > >From: "Rachel E. Saury" <[log in to unmask]> > >Subject: Beginning Spanish FIPSE > >In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]> > > Dear colleagues, > > We have received an invitation from FIPSE to submit a long > proposal. I am > writing to see if there is anyone "out there" would be interested > in > participating as a collaborator on this project. > > Here is a brief summary: > > The Beginning Spanish Natural Speech Project breaks down > conventional > academic and often limiting boundaries between disciplines and > institutions > through further development and eventual dissemination of a suite > of > software called Savant. Savant is intended as a general tool to > allow for > the multi-lingual and multi-purposed use of video and audio files > in > conjunction with transcripts and associated information, including > language > learning activities. A Java-XML tool, it shows audio and video in > time-based synchronization with transcripts, translations, and > associated > data such as grammatical notes, lexical notes, linguistic > annotations and > content annotations. With web-based accessibility, developers and > collaborators can contribute to a shared database of authentic and > associated materials. A FIPSE grant for three years, from May, > 2003 > through May, 2006 will enable us to further develop modes of > access in > Savant that allow for its use in language pedagogy, cultural > pedagogy, > general public and research consultations for multiple purposes. > We > propose Spanish as a test-bed for this project in order to address > the > national trend towards high enrollments in that language and, > thus, for > high quality target-language materials in a distance learning > format which > can be adapted for use either in conjunction with a traditional > classroom > setting or for more independent work. At UVA, in particular, we > are > planning on using Savant as a rich learning resource to replace 2 > hours of > seat time in a traditional classroom as one way of addressing a > need to > open more sections and thus better utilize teaching assistant > resources. > Collaborators could be involved at any or all of the following > three levels: > > 1) Development of the tool Savant: the collaborators would send a > representative to UVA 2-4 times over the 2 development years to > evaluate > the tool in progress and give input on its development. Further, > since the > tool is going to be web-based, you would also provide input long- > distance. > 2) Development of authentic materials--videos--for the database: > since a > large component of the grant as we see it is to end up with > authentic > materials in the database with associated activities that will > then be > tested in class, lab and off-site settings, we hope to be able to > build on > available materials and associated activities. In our case, we > will work > with our Study Abroad program to Valencia so that undergraduates > will be > collecting authentic videos as part of their program grade. We > could also > be adopting already existing materials (of course with copyright > permissions). The collaborators could be contributing to the > database and > to activity development. > > 3) Test-runs of Savant in actual courses: pilots of the new > materials would > be run at collaborators' institutions in year 3, with the results > evaluated > in some way. > > Let me know if you are interested in participating! The > application > deadline is May 24, so we would need to hear from you within the > next few > days in order to better evaluate how you would participate! > > Any input on similar programs underway nationally would also be > welcome! > Cordially, > > Rachel E. Saury, Ph.D. > Director, Arts & Sciences Center for Instructional Technologies > Lecturer, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures > P.O. Box 400784, Cabell 219 > University of Virginia > Charlottesville, VA 22904-4784 > 434-924-6847 ph. > ********************************************************* > May the light of awakened mind become apparent. Ven. Dhyani > Ywahoo, Etowah > Cherokee >