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This event took place on 23rd June 2007 at 9:30am (08:30 GMT)
Knowledge Media Institute, Berrill Building, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, MK7 6AA
How to practise speaking is one of the major challenges not only in distance language education but also in mainstream institutions which increasingly turn to online learning. While the use of video and audio conferencing tools in language learning was slow to take off, the development of systems such as Elluminate, Skype or MSN Messenger is opening up increasing possibilities. Yet questions such as how to make the most of these multimodal tools in educational settings and how to deal with their challenges are still woefully under-researched. Our approach to spoken interaction is informed by sociocultural theories which see learning as situated in a particular context and mediated by tools such as language or technology (Wertsch 1991).
The new Moodle-based virtual learning environment (VLE) at the Open University offers a range of online tools. Particularly interesting for language teaching and learning are tools that allow for communication and interaction with peers and tutors, especially in the spoken mode. To investigate the potential of such online tools, an experimental pilot study was carried out at the Department of Languages. 25 students participated in a fully online five-week German course which was facilitated by two tutors and involved activities using a number of synchronous and asynchronous tools.
Through pre- and post-questionnaires we investigated students’ attitudes towards computer-mediated communication and their practical experiences with the tools. In this paper we will present our initial findings, focusing on FlashMeeting, a videoconferencing system that was used for weekly tutorials. From previous research on synchronous spoken computer-mediated tutorials (Stickler et al 2005, Duensing et al 2006) we concluded that task design and tutor style play as important a role in the distribution of speaking and the pattern of online interactions as the medium itself. Analysis of the interaction in the FlashMeeting sessions, both quantitative and qualitative, will show the effect of the functionalities that the medium has (e.g. the video channel). It will also allow us to find out more about the interplay between different modes of communication as well as the impact of social and affective factors on spoken interaction. |
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