| Schedule: | 2009-09-11 (12:45 - 13:30)
Parallel Session 4 (Room A-19) |
| Title: | Preparatory study for the design of Visu, a desktop videoconferencing platform for synchronous language tutoring |
| Authors: | Nicolas Guichon |
| Abstract: |
With the latest improvements in technology and ever-increasing bandwidth capabilities (Hrastinski, 2008), synchronous pedagogical interaction and communication can now be facilitated and thus provide new opportunities for language learning in distance education. Most early pedagogical experiments involved room-based videoconferencing allowing distant groups to communicate (see for instance Kinginger, Gourvés-Hayward and Simpson, 1999). Recently, desktop videoconferencing (DVC) has proved to be a more promising (and cheaper) alternative which implies using two computers networked together with software applications and equipped with webcams, instant messaging, file transfer, a white board, and audio conferencing functionalities so that two interlocutors can see, write, send documents and speak to each other. Such facilities have been used in recent pedagogical experiments for peer-to-peer language exchange (O'Dowd, 2006; Wang, 2004) or for online tutoring which pairs off native or near-native tutors and distant learners of a foreign language (Develotte, Guichon & Kern, 2008; Jauregi & Bañados, 2008). DVC is generally reported to allow for authentic exchanges and for motivating and intense interactions. In most cases, such educational experiences have relied on existing software solutions such as Skype, MSN or NetMeeting. But, as it is pointed out by Raymond et al. (2005) "synchronous collaborative learning environments are often restricted to a set of communication tools and they do not offer any strategy to organize interactions and communications among users". The purpose of the Visu project, gathering researchers from several disciplines such as computer science, foreign language didactics and ergonomics, is to design a system providing, besides the usual features of videoconferencing systems, specific functionalities to assist language tutors in their task. The present paper envisages the design of a DVC platform for synchronous language tutoring named Visu from the language didactics perspective. This preparatory research, based on an ergonomic approach, seeks to: The paper first exposes the theoretical foundations concerning distant synchronous language tutoring by drawing on previous research in second language acquisition and language instruction. It then proceeds to present the methodology that has been devised to provide specifications for the implementation of the system. This paper concludes with a presentation of the specifications for the design of Visu and focuses on three functionalities that might assist tutors in their task. |
| Keywords: | desktop videoconferencing, synchronous language tutoring, communication strategies, catachreses, usability |
| Main topic: | Research in new language learning environments, Pedagogical change in technology integration |
| Biodata: | Nicolas Guichon is a lecturer at Lyon 2 University and a member of the ICAR (Interaction, Corpus, Apprentissages, Représentations) research team. His research focuses on teacher education, computer-assisted language learning and materials design. |
| Type of presentation | Paper presentation |
| Paper category | Research |
| Target educational sector | Higher education |
| Language of delivery | English |