Conference

Basic information

Name Steven Silsbee
Belonging department
Occupation name
researchmap researcher code
researchmap agency

Title

Commercial courseware: How does it fit in a university context? 

Author

 

Journal

JALT CALL Conference Kyoto, Japan

Publication Date

2010/05/30

Start Date

 

End Date

 

Invited

 

Language

 

Country

 

Conference Class

 

International Collaboration

 

Conference Type

 

Promoter

 

Venue

 

URL

Format

Url

Download

 

Summary

This presentation introduced a project using commercial courseware as the sole component of special classes designed for students who had previously failed one or more English credits. Considerations behind the decision to use Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) were given, including reducing class sizes and allowing more administrative flexibility. The rationale for choosing the specific software was said to be that it catered to a broad range of student levels, and offered many features which helped to achieve the above criteria. An overview of the course presented the conditions needed to be met to obtain credit, with a description as to how teachers were able to manage classes to help students meet those conditions. Data from student exit surveys showed favorable attitudes toward this particular course. Results found that a majority of students feel their English improved as a result of the course and that they studied more than in regular, more traditional English classes. A consideration of future expansion of the program and the continuing challenges was then discussed.
Presentation and findings of data gathered.

Major Achivement