emilychen
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Interactivity and CALL
Many multimedia CALL software packages claim their high level of interactivity. What does "interactivity" mean to you? Do you think they are truly interactive? Please give some examples to explain your opinion.
Note: Group 1 and 2 are required to answer this question. Other students' responses are also welcome.
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10/18/2004, 12:43 pm
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jessiechung
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Group 1
Lanni,Vita,Matilde,Selena,Jessie Chung
Many multimedia CALL software packages claim their high level of interactivity. What does "interactivity" mean to you? Do you think they are truly interactive? Please give some examples to explain your opinion.
(1)YES:
Interactivity of Multimedia CALL means the degree of level between Human-Machine or Human-Human interaction from any technical equipment or materials that are used or designed by the website designer.
I think the degree of interaction between Human-Machine or Human-Human is increasing. Nowadays many website provides email, on-line chatting, high-quality graphics and pre-audio and video recordings or even create new audio and video recordings for the language learners. This communicative function is not only to motivate the learners to be more spontaneous, but to change the role of learners as a contributor to the website as well. When the users share their opinions or communicate through emailing, on-line chatting, or even on-line voice recorded, the distance between users and designer will be shorten. What is more, with positive response and feedback through multimedia communication, the users and learners can learn something from each other and get improvement.
(2)NO:
In my opinion, interactivity, by definition, should focus on “humanized communication”, which means a software packages can “guess” what a user wants to search or what a user wants to say. The purpose of users who use a software is to improve their English, if the software package can’t “guess“what users say, the software package can’t correct the sentences or just shows “error!” on the screen. Using this software package, users feel more depressed than they did because they don’t know where their errors are.
For example, if I use a software package, when I enter the sentence “I hungry”, I hope the system will gives me a hint such as an error in my spelling, meaning or no verb. If the system can give me a direction, I can find my error as soon as possible and improve it. Interactive software should be an assistant for users, it guides users to think, find their errors, and then remember the right sentence. Besides, I think the sentences which a software package provides are very important, too. If users type five words (Verb), the examples are the same; I don’t think there are any improvements for users.
Last edited by jessiechung, 10/24/2004, 7:08 pm
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10/24/2004, 7:04 pm
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LynnKuo
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 Re: Interactivity and CALL - Group 2
We think that “interactivity” is a process between learners and computer software. Learners practice through computer software and then computer software gives response. However, this kind of “interactivity” does not completely fit different kinds of learners’ needs. Each learner has his/her standard when he/she evaluates “interactivity” in an English Learning website. He/she sees if the website is what he/she needs since he/she has different points of view in “interactivity.” Some learners may think some websites are interactive, but some do not.
Talking abut listening, for example, in Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab (http://www.esl-lab.com/), it provides learners various levels of listening comprehension activities. Learners can not only listen to the programs (Real One), but also can watch them (Video). Furthermore, this website also shows scores, answers, and quiz transcripts after learners finish listening activities. This interactivity in this websites just likes those mentioned above. Is it truly interactive? Some learners think it is enough for some learners who would like to learn more from this website.
Interactivity in speaking computer software is more interactive. There is software called “Talk to Me,” which provides an English speaking activity to learners to speak English with the computer. The software will ask you some questions, the computer screen will list four answers, which learner could decide which one you want to answer, and then learner speaks the sentence through the microphone. Then software will recognized your sound and give you the response. For example, if the question is “ How are you?” the learner replied “I’m fine, thank you, and you?” The computer will say, “Fine, thanks,” etc. This kind of software offers learners have opportunity to speak English. However, the vocal recognition seems to be not perfect in some way. If the learner does not pronoun well, the computer will not recognize what you say; then the activity will not skip to next exercise unless you pronounce correctly.
For reading, in Activities for ESL Students (http://a4esl.org./), it provides quizzes, exercises, and puzzles to help learners learn English as a second language. The category in this website is clear. Learners can practice depending on their levels to choose suitable programs. The only thing can show “interactivity” is that the multimedia CALL software gives answers and scores. The “interactivity” seems not strong enough. In our learning experience in English reading, we seldom focus on the interactive activities between multimedia CALL software and us. We do exercise, check answers, and review. We even do not think about how to interact with the software mentioned above.
In English writing, “My Access” will be a good example. Learners use this software to practice their English writing, and then the software will pick the grammatical mistakes and provide some other choices to correct the mistakes for leaner. It also gives learner grade for their writing, which could help learner realize which level their writing are. However, the grading system based on its only reference resource, which means the topic is limited. Therefore, this software only could offer the basic English writing practice. The interactivity seems not quiet active; learner could not get more feedback through this software.
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10/24/2004, 8:37 pm
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