tracy plowman - elt advisor,edulang - untele - march 2004 ‘packlang’ (or how to take the pain...
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Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
‘PACKLANG’
(or how to take the pain out of creating exercises using a free
authoring tool)
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Edulang Who are we ?
• Created in 1992 in Brittany, France.• Activity : publishing and distribution of
language learning software • Small structure with 8 people
• Launched own grammar software in 2000
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
• A web site : www.edulang.com
- comprehensive reference list of language learning software from around the world
- on-line shopping
• A catalogue (in France only) containing our selection of the best products
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Potential strengths of CALL:
• Multimedia is ‘modern’ (face validity)
• More attractive and fun to use
• Non-threatening environment
• leads to active and involved learning
• gives increased learner control
• takes account of learner differences
• etc...
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Pitfalls of some products:
• « More is less »?
• too many bells and whistles?
• requires additional training before use
• superficial coverage of key areas
• often dependent on other software
• fixed nature of the content
• quickly out dated ?
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Why Packlang? Some background...
Teachers’ wish lists :
- user-friendliness
- ‘customisability’
- flexibility
- ‘mutualisation ’
- high quality, pedagogical content
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
What does Packlang offer ?
• simple, intuitive interface• composed of clearly focused modules• emphasis on meaning in context• includes lots and lots of practice• basic content may be modified (fully authorable)• additional downloadable lessons available (mutualisation of resources)
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Packlang today:
www.gramster.com
www.vocabster.com
www.audioster.com
Free samples available for download here !
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Dedicated web sites
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Who writes the content of a CD-ROM ?
The content of Gramster and Vocabster was written by Dr.Paul Brett - lecturer at a British university and a very experienced English language teacher.• PhD thesis on the use of multimedia in language learning. • Other publications on CD-ROM: English for Business and Citizen of the World
Current post: e-learning co-ordinator at the Centre for Learning and Teaching, University of Wolverhampton, GB.
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
« Pedagogy before technology »
Our motto:
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
The Authoring Tool
Customising Packlang software
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Contacts in English:
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
PACKLANG : Vocabster
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Immediate feedback
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Student Tracking
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Current project : Audioster
Tracy Plowman - ELT Advisor,Edulang - UNTELE - March 2004
Future projects: Videoster