APLNG 588: Computer-Assisted Language Learning

Fall 2007

Pennsylvania State University

 

General Information

Instructor:      Xiaofei Lu

Office:            301 Sparks Building

Mailbox:        305 Sparks Building

Phone:            (814) 8654692

Email:             xxl13 at psu dot edu

Webpage:      http://www.personal.psu.edu/xxl13/teaching/au07/588

Lectures:        Thursday, 6-9pm, 006 Life Sciences

Office hours: Tuesday, 2-4pm, and by appointment

 

Required Textbooks

1.      Egbert, Joy L. and Petrie, Gina M. (eds.) (2005). CALL Research Perspectives. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.  

2.      Levy, Mike and Stockwell, Glenn (2006). CALL Dimensions: Options and Issues in Computer-Assisted Language Learning. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

 

Course Objectives

This course provides an introduction to the theory, practice, and research of computer-assisted language learning (CALL). The specific objectives of the course are to help students learn to:

  • Design computer-assisted language learning systems (as a designer)
  • Use computer technologies to facilitate language pedagogy (as a practitioner)
  • Engage with and produce CALL research (as a researcher)
  • Understand the three-way interaction between technology, pedagogy, and research

 

Course Outline

This course will be organized around the following four topics.

  • Theory: We will examine the theories that have been employed in CALL, including SLA, sociocultural theory, activity theory, and constructivism.
  • Practice: We will examine the principles and criteria for CALL system design and evaluation as well as the types of CALL activities that are used to develop various language skills. 
  • Research: We will examine a range of topics, perspectives, and methods in CALL research.
  • Technology: We will introduce current advances in CALL technology and discuss their impact on CALL practice and research.

 

Course Requirements

  • Participation (10%). Students are expected to read all required readings and actively participate in in-class and threaded discussions.
  • Presentations (15%). Each student will be asked to present one research paper (10%) as well as his/her final project (5%). Students will be evaluated on the effectiveness of both the organization and style of their presentations.
  • Software review (15%). Each student will be asked to submit a publishable software review.
  • Assignments (30%). There will be six take-home assignments (5% each).
  • Final project (30%). At the end of the course, students are expected to 1) design, implement, and document a CALL system OR 2) submit a research paper. The final project is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, 12/13/2007.

 

Make-up Policy

  • Unless accompanied with official documentation of an acceptable reason, late submissions of software review, assignments, and final project will be subject to a 10% penalty for each day late (including Saturdays and Sundays).
  • If you have to miss a scheduled presentation for an acceptable reason, please notify me immediately so that your presentation may be rescheduled.

 

Academic Misconduct

All suspected academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism) will be reported to the Academic Integrity Committee and, if verified, will be subject to academic and/or disciplinary sanctions. 

 

Tentative Schedule*

 

Week

Date

Topic

Readings

Skills

What’s Due

Presenter

1

8/30

Introduction

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch1

HTML

 

 

2

9/6

Theory

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch5

HTML

 

 

3

9/13

Design

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch2

HTML

Assignment 1

 

4

9/20

Technology Overview

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch8

Hot Potatoes

Assignment 2

 

5

9/27

Technology: CMC

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch4

Warner (2004); Greenfield (2003)

 

 

Ho-Won & Sung Woo

6

10/4

Technology: ICALL

Nagata (2002); Granger (2003)

 

Assignment 3

 

7

10/11

Practice

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch7

Hampel & Hauck (2004)

 

 

 

8

10/18

Practice

Hincks (2003); Naber (2003)

 

Assignment 4

 

9

10/25

Evaluation

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch3

 

Assignment 5

 

10

11/1

Research Overview

Egbert & Petrie (2005): Ch1-3

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch6

 

 

 

11

11/8

Research

Egbert & Petrie (2005): Ch4-6

 

Software review

Amanda (Ch6)

12

11/15

Research

Egbert & Petrie (2005): Ch7-9

 

Assignment 6

Jhu Hyoung (Ch7)

13

Happy Thanksgiving! No Class.

14

11/29

Research

Egbert & Petrie (2005): Ch10-12

 

 

Lu (Ch11)

15

12/6

Research; Conclusion

Egbert & Petrie (2005): Ch13-15

Levy & Stockwell (2006): Ch9-10

 

 

 

16

12/13

Final Project Presentation

 

 

Final Project

 

 

* The schedule and readings are subject to change.