Cosl Conference Reflection

LANGUAGE LEARNING INITIATIVE

The presenter Alex Chisholm from Learning Games Network , introduced us to the international online community for learners of all ages to explore and acquire second language skills. This project sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation and under the evaluation of U.S. Department of Education consists in the integration of the four basic skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, with emphasis in the production: Speaking.

The project is target to two populations: One, EFL(English as a Foreign Language) to Chinese speakers(Mandarin) and another ESL(English as Second Language) to Spanish speakers. All the competencies are presented through comic book games called: The Forgotten World. It integrates 15,000 words, a Dictionary, games, video and culture. Future project include mobile ESL and EFL platform such as: SMS games. Voice activate featured in portable equipment.

This project is fascinating and revolutionary and will be part of my research in Distance Learning Language and culture.

MIT BLOSSOMS Initiative:

Employing a Blended Learning Approach with Appropriate Technology

This Conference appealed my attention for two reasons:

First, The use of technology and learning approach and

Second, the specific target setting, which are developing countries.

The presenter: M.  Elizabeth Murray is part of the project: Blended Learning Open Source Science or Mathematics Studies(BLOSSOMS) of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(http://web.mit.edu/). She  presented some barriers to use OER in developing countries, such as:

1-Inadequate Infrastructure

2-Language and Culture

3-Difficulty in finding  OER resource, such as access to internet

4-Lack of sustainable matters.

They have created a series of educational videos emphasizing in 3 pedagogical aspects:

1-The central role of the classroom teacher. Teacher is a facilitator and use a blended learning Model

2-The use of the appropriate technology.  Using media that are easy to access to, such as Video Cd or Video Tape.

3-Co-creation and Co-usage with educators of the developing country

4-OER content that is demand-driven.

The project has started for high school and in the subject of Math, Physic and Biology. We could see some examples and I consider it is very effective especially for countries like Dominican Republic, where I come from, that lacks many of the technological resources and I personally see this project as one that I will use in the future  to help schools in there.