The role of

2nd Language Teaching & Learning in

Distance Education

The role of 2nd Language Teaching and Learning in Distance Education

Brian Meagher

Advanced Research Seminar(LANED-GE.2800.1.001.SP12)

April 10, 2012

“Lucia! Please help!” - desperate husband

Scott E. PageLeonid Hurwicz Collegiate Professor of Complex Systems, Political Science, and EconomicsThe University of Michigan

Scott E. PageLeonid Hurwicz Collegiate Professor of Complex Systems, Political Science, and EconomicsThe University of Michigan

Global Understanding Seminar

Shimane University, Japan La Universidad de San Ignacio, Peru

TaskCognitiveCultural

Linguistic

Diversity DistanceLearning

Tools

TaskCognitiveCultural

Linguistic

Diversity DistanceLearning

Tools

What is the role of 2nd language teaching within this context?

Distance Education

Synchronous and/or

Asynchronous

Second Language Teaching

& Learning

Pros Cons

Pre-test… discussion

Synchronous

and

Asynchronous

Synchronous

Asynchronous

Mobile EducationProblem in Pakistan- 6th largest population in the world- At the current population growth rate, Pakistan needs to build a school every hour- Distance Education may be the only solution- But, only 10% of population have PC’s and Internet- Almost every household has a cell phone

Umar SaifSaif Center for Innovation

Source: Umar Saif. Going Global Conference 2012

Mobile EducationProblem in Pakistan- 6th largest population in the world- At the current population growth rate, Pakistan needs to build a school every hour- Distance Education may be the only solution- But, only 10% of population have PC’s and Internet- Almost every household has a cell phone

Umar SaifSaif Center for Innovation

Source: Umar Saif. Going Global Conference 2012

Mobile EducationProblem in Pakistan- 6th largest population in the world- At the current population growth rate, Pakistan needs to build a school every hour- Distance Education may be the only solution- But, only 10% of population have PC’s and Internet- Almost every household has a cell phone

Umar SaifSaif Center for Innovation

Possible Solution-A combination of

- MMS lectures (multimedia)- Interactive phone calls (audio)- SMS assessment

Source: Umar Saif. Going Global Conference 2012

Research

Distance Education

Synchronous and/or

Asynchronous

Second Language

Teaching & Learning

*Davis suggests to use the intersection of two prominent theorists – Perraton and Krashen

*Davis suggests to use the intersection of two prominent theorists – Perraton and Krashen

Perraton – Distance Education Krashen – Foreign Lang acquisitionNot crucial – type of media used Comprehensible InputCrucial – relevance of content Lower affective filterCrucial – amount & immediacy of dialogue Decrease anxietyCrucial – interest Increase interest

1. Provider-classroom videoconferencing

2. Collaborative classroom videoconferencing

3. Multi-point videoconferencing

4. Electronic field trip videoconferencing

4 main types of video-conferencing

My attempt to unfairly summarize the research onto just a few slides…

Problems faced in a normal classroom are still present in the distance classroom,

and sometimes exacerbated

Problems faced in a normal classroom are still present in the distance classroom,

and sometimes exacerbated

“Instructional methods that result in poor learning in a paper-based environment tend to also result in poor learning in a computer based environment.”- Dr. Richard Mayer, UCSB

Scaffolding is key

Scaffolding is key

Frameworks exist• But they’re not widely known and/or recognized • And with the mixing of meaning in terminology,

no one really knows what to make of it

Teacher to teacher preparation and communication is incredibly important

Constant feedback

Stay within your comfort zone*

…and finally, as general rules…

TaskCognitiveCultural

Linguistic

Diversity DistanceLearning

Tools

What is the role of 2nd language teaching within this context?

References

References