Supporting Language Learning

Supporting Language Learning

Meron Hrycusko

Faculty of Arts, York University

About Me

• Web Developer/Designer• York University (Toronto, Ontario)

• E-learning consultant• Sunset Learning (Reston, Virginia)

About York University

• 50,000 + students• 7,000 faculty & staff• 11 faculties• 21 research centres• 2 campuses

About the Faculty of Arts

• Currently– Largest Faculty of Arts in Canada– 51 Unique Degree Programs– Undergoing a Merger with Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies

• As of July 1st, 2009 – New Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional

Studies Program

About the Faculty of Arts and Moodle

• started piloting Moodle, Summer 2004• version. 1.5.3

• Alternative to WebCT• Adopted quickly by faculty in the Department of French

Studies and DLLL

• Now Central Course Management System

About DLLL

• Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics (DLLL)

• Degree and non-Degree Programs• Does NOT include Department of French

Studies

Before we get started

Growing Up in St. Catharines

• I watched a lot of this…….

Working in Toronto

• I’ve been exposed to this…….

So I figured……

The Venue and Staff

• Moodle• Multimedia Language Centre (MLC)• Academic Technology Services (ATS) and Faculty

Support Centre (FSC)

Moodle at York

• Version 1.9.x• 32,000 + Moodle Accounts• 25 languages installed• 851 Live Courses

Behind the Scenes

• 4 x SUN Servers– 2 Apache– 2 MySQL

• 2 x Dual-Core AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 2.8 GHz• 4GB of memory• 2 x 144GB SAS drives• Ubuntu 8.04

Multimedia Language Centre

• 2 – Teaching Labs• 1 – Open Access Lab• Recording Booth• Software (Web & Client)• Desktops / Web Cams & Mics• Streaming Server

Support Staff

• Academic Technology Services (ATS)– Direct support staff for the Faculty of Arts

• Faculty Support Centre (FSC)– Direct support staff for York University

• Admin access to Moodle• Web-based production• Video and Audio Capturing/Editing/Production• Access to Streaming Servers• Knowledgeable Staff

Moodle and Languages

Qualifying Round

• Eliminate Degree and non-Degree programs with NO Current Moodle Courses 2009

Qualifying Round

First Round

• Moodle courses >=1 and utilizing– Resources

• Link to files ppt, doc, pdf

– Activities• Forum• Assignment

– Language Option

Soccer ball image by www.visualparadox.com

First Round

Second Round




– Language Option– Streaming Audio/Video

Second Round

Semi-final Round




– Language Option– Streaming Audio/Video– Online Quizzing

Semi-final Round

Finals

French Japanese

Japanese Studies Program


• All Courses utilize Moodle– Resources

• Mainly links to files and websites

– Activities• Forums• Assignments• Journals• Online Quizzing

– Streaming Media (limited)– Language Support


• Elementary Modern Standard Japanese• 300 + students (at the beginning of the semester)

• 1 Lecture• 9 Tutorials

Japanese Course Online Testing

• Multiple Choice Questions• Controlled Environment

– MLC Teaching Lab– Moderated by Instructor and Technician

• Restriction by Network Address/ Password Set

Japanese Course Online Testing

• Utilizing Online Testing for 4 years• Large question pool• Minimum to no supervision

Department of French Studies

Department of French Studies

• 32 Courses being taught 2009• Majority utilize Moodle

– Resources• Mainly links to files and websites

– Activities• Forums• Assignments• Journals• Online Quizzing (minimal use)

– Streaming Media (extensive use)– Language Support

The Penalty Shot

• The French Placement Test

The French Placement Test



• Consists of 4 parts– 1. Phonetics– 2. Listening activity– 3. Grammar activity– 4. Reading activity

• Scored out of 60

• Requirements– Moodle account– Browser with Flash Player and Speakers/Headphones

Part 1 - Phonetics

Flash player was used to play audio. Had the ability to set it to multiple listens for the user. (2 plays in this case)

Part 2 - Listening activity

Flash player was used to play audio. Had the ability to set it to multiple listens for the user. (2 plays in this case)

Part 3 – Grammar Activity

Part 4 – Reading Activity

Beta Round Testing

• Controlled Environment– 1st tested User Interface (small groups of students)– 2nd tested question content

• Beginner French – 44 students• Intermediate French – 89 students• Advanced French – 102 students

– Total 235 Students

Data Analysis

What’s Next?

• French Placement Test Part 1 - LIVE• French Placement Test Part 2• Other languages have now shown an interest

in having placement tests.• Continue to showcase Moodle in the

Language Departments

And the Winner is the French Department

Contact Information

If you have any questions or would like to contact me:

[email protected]

Or visit me at:

http://www.yorku.ca/hrycusko/