CIDER - Designing online synchronous communication to strengthen students’ second-language communication skills

We would like to invite you to the next presentation in our series of free CIDER sessions. Our next session features a group presentation and discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Murphy (Principal Investigator), Camilla Stoodley (Project Manager), Paula Thomas (Teacher), & Kate Scarth (Research Assistant).

Title: Designing online synchronous communication to strengthen students’ second-language communication skills

This presentation reviews a two-year study focused on strengthening students’ second language communication skills. The study aimed to identify teacher practices and student activities most effective for and best suited to promoting negotiation of meaning, as well as to determine the related benefits, challenges, and solutions of implementing the practices and activities. The study also examined the viability of the practices and activities in terms of sustainability and scalability. Methods included use of Elluminate Live to support online communication, which typically occurred between two groups of four students at one time. Teachers also participated in face-to-face meetings, discussion forums in WebCT and Desire 2 Learn, and individual reflection in a blog and pbwiki. A web site featured training modules for students. Semi-structured observation and analysis of E-Live sessions, as well as interviews with participants, and analysis of discussion forums and individual reflections were conducted. Preliminary findings for the first year were categorized as technical, logistical, or pedagogical; for year two, challenges and factors conducive to sustainability and scalability were identified.

When: Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008, 11am – 12pm MDT (Edmonton)

Where: Online via Elluminate at: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.8B71B60F2931D029AC3837DC06B70D

Pre-Configuration
Please make sure your Mac or PC is equipped with a microphone and speakers, so that we can use the Voice over IP functionality built into the web conferencing software.
Please note that it is extremely important that you get your system set up prior to the start of the event. Information on installing the necessary software and configuring your PC is available at http://www.elluminate.com/support/ in the “First Time Users” section.

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CIDER is a Community Partner of Elluminate, who proudly sponsors our web conferencing needs. To sign up for a free, no obligation three-user version of Elluminate, please visit http://www.getvroom.com