Web 2.0 Based e-Learning System for CEFR

Kohji ShibanoResearch Institute for Languages and Culture of Asia

and Africa

Tokyo University of Foreign Studiesshibano@aa.tufs.ac.jpECML Conference

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Language Education Requirements

LL, CALL Unique requirements can be found in LL or CALL Complements traditional language education

However,

Five skills training is needed1. listening, 2. spoken interaction, 3. spoken production, 4. reading and 5. writing

General requirements can be found in “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (Council of Europe 2001).”

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CEFR Requirements

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Learning

Teaching

Assessment

SkillListening

Reading

Spoken Interaction

Spoken Production

Writing

Reference Level

A Basic User

B Independent

User

C Proficient User

A2 Waystage

A1 Breakthrough

B1 Threshold

B2 Vantage

C1 Effective Operational Proficiency

C2 Mastery

An Example of Comprehensive Teaching Material (JPLANG Requirements)

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Generate e-Learning Contents Based on Complete Materials from “Breakthrough” to the University level (“Threshold”) competence

18 books for 900 hours of class room education

2,634 printed pages

Comprehensive Japanese language text books in an e-Learning environment

Based on published text books written by our university’s Japanese Language Center. 900 hours of class room teaching. Introductory Japanese: 1,754 pages of

published textbook In total 2,634 pages. Published textbooks

include three audio tapes covering about 500 pages of them.

Addition of 20,500 sound files for foreign learners

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Trial Use of Existing Systems

Chosen Systems WebCT, Blackboard, Moodle

Can not meet our requirements Generation of several thousand pages is

very difficult Sound/multimedia support is not

sufficient for language learning Can not provide a real time monitor of

learner’s actions but real time monitor can be found in traditional LL systems

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What is Web 2.0 Originally

Semantic Web proposed by W3C Based on RDF (Resource Description

Framework)

Reality 2005 Web technology revolution CGM (Consumer Generated Media)

Blog, Wikipedia, Flickr, YouTube

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2005 Web Technology Revolutions

Ajax – Desktop Usability to Web Apps Google suggest, Google map, Google Apps

Ruby on Rails – Agile Development Amazon, Rakuten (Japanese Largest Internet Shopping

Mall), Twitter

Flash Media Server –True Multimedia YouTube

Using these technologies, we can develop a real e-Language Laboratory

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Objectives of JPLANG Project

1. To develop an original Web 2.0 based e-Learning system for language education

2. To develop complete educational materials for teaching Japanese from introductory Japanese to university level

3. To use these systems and contents to improve our teaching in our class rooms

4. To provide e-Learning services for Japanese learners and teachers in the world

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Current State of the Project An original e-Learning system using emerging technologies such

as Ajax, Ruby on Rails, and Flash Media server.

Introductory Japanese language text books contents 1,692 web pages 20,500 sound files for 300 hours of teaching and have been servicing for about a

year

Registered Users 2,519(as of 2007-09-18, 1,295 as of 2007-03-31, 100/month

new users last year, 200/month this year) registered users from more than 30 countries

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History of JPLANG Development

Base Technologies Ver. 0.1

Java + PostgreSQL + JavaScript + Flash Ver. 0.2

PHP + PostgreSQL + JavaScript + Flash Ver. 0.3 → Ver. 0.9

Ajax + Ruby on Rails + MySQL + JavaScript + Flash + Flash Media Server

Current version up and running since April, 2006 http://jplang.tufs.ac.jp/ 2,201 users as of 2007-08-01 100 new users per month in 2006 200 new users per month in 2007

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Content Generation

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Core DTD

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Navigations and Controls

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LMS User Portal Page

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Speech recording using Flash Media Server

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Use of 2005 Technologies in JPLANG

Ruby on Rails JPLANG development framework Monthly release of new services and content

additions Ajax

Corrections and comments feedback on “Writing” task

Real time recording of user’s behavior log and of responses to an assignment

Drag and drop editing of assignments Flash Media Server

Server side recording of a user’s speaking production

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Demonstration

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Concluding Remarks

We have developed; Contents generators for large scale materials Complete Japanese learning contents Ajax and Flash based rich contents Web 2.0 based original LMS

In Progress; German Polish

Future Work; Speaking interaction support Voice annotation support Enhanced course managements

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Thank you for your attention

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