blended learning and cmc

COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION AND BLENDED E-LEARNING

AN EXPERIENCE AT HIGH SCHOOL

Nicoletta Cuzzolin – Liceo Classico Statale “E. Montale” San Donà di Piave

Interactive exercises

Traditional learningIn the

classroom

Teaching with the computer: web pages





Virtual learning

on the web

Traditional learningIn the

classroom

Blended e-learning

Blended e-learning


Virtual learning on the web

External resources

Administration

Activities

Messages

Online users

Calendar

Participants

Latest news

Course description

Recent activities

AN ONLINE COURSE


The course home page


http://e.mediamentesuperiori.it/

The project

Participants: Network of schoolsTeachersStudents

Objectives: Innovating teaching methodologies by means of advanced technology

Sharing new materials and experiences with other schools


An online course

• Addressees: students in their second year at high school

• Organization: one of the three weekly hours in the lab


The digital divide

i. not all students have an internet connection or even a computer

ii. some students do not feel at ease with the technology

iii.some students are not confident with the English language

Students bridging the gap


learning objects

Resources• Labels• Text pages• Web pages• Links to files or

web pages• Directories

Activities•Assignments•Chat•Choice•Databases•Forum•Glossary•Hot Potatoes Quiz•Journal•Lesson•Quiz•Survey


communication tools

Asynchronous • Forum• E-mail

Synchronous• Chat• Instant messaging (also asynchronous)

Use of communication systems: preference for asynchronous systems


I. Access II. Editing profilesIII. First topic: “The Musical Theatre”IV. First activity: forum discussion

The first approach


• Hi!...I've seen the London Theatre Guide and I've seen a lot of very nice musicals inspired by films...such as: Billy Elliot, Doctor Doolittle (FANTASTIC!), Cabaret, Chicago (GREAT!)...and a lot of other wonderful Musicals...and of these musicals I've seen the film!...I think they are all beautiful!...

• the aspects I especially like are the backstage, costumes... how to write a musical, the make up of the actors...I think it's very interesting!!

• I agree with Mara, I think that the dances and the songs in a film are a bit boring and too unreal , but I think usually musicals' stories are interesting and moving...

In the forum


Forum news: to illustrate objectives, procedures and the possible development of a learning unit

Other communication systems


Chat: synchronous system preferred by the more confident students

Instant messaging: quick private communication – the most used system

Email: used when addressee is offline, to send attachments or to write to the whole group

Other communication systems


Communication within other activities: the journal


Communication within other activities: quizzes


External resources to communicate

Remote RSS feeds


What the students say: advantages

• I think that this experience is really interesting and useful for me! It doesn't change my method of study because I always study on my books because I think that studying on a book is better than in the computer.

• I think that with this experience I've learn a lot about how use a computer. And I think it's really useful talking about our interests and chat […]; we can say our ideas and opinions or know more about a topic interesting for us. And this type of exercises aren't boring and they encourage us to learn English; we can have immediately corrections and we can know what we've understood.

• I think that the computer and the internet are a good way to do our learning activity. But I think that the design of this site can be better.


Some disadvantages•But for the people who haven't got a computer it's a problem because they can't do the exercises at home. •About this learning experience I think that some topics are difficult but useful to improve my English and to learn new things. I think that the exercises are useful to study before a test because you can always see the correction, and know immediately your mistakes. But it's also a problem for the person who hasn't got the computer at home. After that, I think that my method to study isn't changed because I see this two things separated. However I think that it's an interesting thing.•In my opinion this learning experience is so hard and at times complicated for people that haven't got computer at home. I use this website in particular when I prepare for tests; but I don't use this when I study because I prefer study in my books and highlight concepts. I think that this platform is more beautiful If It is more colourful with (for example) photos or images. I don't like that: it isn't facultative but with judgement because perhaps it isn't used always with cleverness and with freedom of speech and expression (obviously with civility).


The teacher’s assessment: evaluating students’ output

• Coherence (answer to task)

• amount of ideas expressed

• accuracy

• Participation/interaction


Conclusions

Participation in class is hindered by:• exposure to the teacher• pressure to perform• ridicule• lack of self-confidence in interpersonal relations

Achievements with e-learning:• Spontaneous output• Improvement of communicative skills• Confident use of resources and tools• Students’ creation of materials to be shared


Other positive effects

• Good teaching tool for mixed-ability class-group management

• More participation in class• EFL as a real means of communication• Learning how to learn


BibliographyBippus, Amy M., Brooks Catherine F., “Student Involvement in Computer-Mediated Communication: Comparing Discussion Posts in Online and Blended Learning Contexts”, The 1st International Conference on Virtual Learning, ICVL 2006, http://fmi.unibuc.ro/cniv/2006/disc/icvl/documente/pdf/met/6_bippus.pdfCalvani A, Rotta M. Comunicazione e apprendimento in Internet, Erickson, 1999Calvani A, Rotta M. Fare formazione in Internet, Erickson, 2000Desiderio F. Imparare le lingue online, Alphatest, 2000Monti S. Internet per l’apprendimentodelle lingue, UTET, 2000Norman D., Levihn U., Anders Hedenquist J. Communicative ideas, Language Teaching Publications, 1986Roversi A. Introduzione alla comunicazione mediata dal computer, Il Mulino, 2004Ur P. Discussions that work, Cambridge U.P., 1981


http://fmi.unibuc.ro/cniv/2006/disc/icvl/documente/pdf/met/6_bippus.pdf

http://fmi.unibuc.ro/cniv/2006/disc/icvl/documente/pdf/met/6_bippus.pdf

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