E-Tools and Teaching ESL Through Distance Education

Presented by

Corinne Bossé

Moodle & ESL Courses

• Undergraduate level, asynchronous mode of Distance Education delivery, self-paced course

• Moodle: learning management system adopted by AU for its online course delivery

• Incremental approach to development of online ESL course (transition: from print to online)

Moodle & ESL Courses

Moodle & ESL Courses

Moodle & ESL Courses

Voice Communication: Wimba

• Rationale for the Wimba pilot project

• Learning Context: Oral Quizzes over telephone with tutors

• Learning technology: to address gap in learning a language at distance; good fit with asynchronous, self-paced ESL course

Voice Communication: Wimba

• What is Wimba?

Voice Communication: Wimba

Pilot project Survey Findings Summary

• Ease of use? Yes, 93%

• Increased oral communication? Yes

• Improved oral communication? Yes

• Challenge: Building an online community of DE language learners in asynchronous self-paced learning context?

Wimba: Future Directions

• Voice boards for translation courses

• Oral exams for “challenge” students

• Placement tests

• Voice board option for oral assignments

• Potential integration with Moodle to foster online learning community of DE language learners

Contact Information

Corinne Bossé

corinneb@athabascau.ca