In 1996, the Summer Institute at the University of Hawaiʻi National Foreign Language Resource Center focused on New Technologies and Less Commonly Taught Languages with the following week-long programs:
- Chinese NetWorkshop (June 24-28)
- Pedagogy of the InterNetWorkshop (July 1-5)
- Symposium on New Technologies and LCTLS (July 8-12)
- Spiderware Workshop (July 15-19)
- A WWW Courseware Development Workshop for Chinese Language Teachers
WORKSHOP – June 24-28, 1996
This hands-on workshop gave a general overview of the existing WWW-based language courses and used various WWW authoring tools to design Chinese lessons on the Web. Participants learned the fundamental concepts and techniques of HTML editing. As pioneers in developing WWW-based Chinese instructional materials, the participants learned how to incorporate various WWW authoring tools in their creation of an on-line database for Chinese langauge instruction.
The topics covered in the workshop included:
- introduction to Chinese HTML editing tools
- authoring in HTML for the WWW
- retrieving authentic Chinese materials from the WWW
- scanning authentic Chinese texts/graphics
- image acquisition with scanners and video cameras
- image processing with Adobe Photoshop
- digitizing sound from microphone and tape using SoundEdit
- digitizing video ¥ future collaboration of ChineseNet participants
Pedagogy of the Internet WORKSHOP – July 1-5, 1996
The Internet provides language learners with important new opportunities for natural communication and access to authentic materials. Yet, like other media, the Internet will only be an effective tool if its use is based on sound pedagogical principles. This workshop addressed the relationship of the Internet to theories of education and second langu age acquisition and discussed pedagogical approaches to using the Internet in language teaching. Participants designed Internet-based activities, projects, and materials and discussed their integration into the language teaching curriculum.
Symposium on New Technologies & Less Commonly Taught Languages SYMPOSIUM – July 8-12, 1996
Advances in computer technology are providing important new tools for teaching and learning languages. These tools can play an especially valuable role in supporting instruction in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs). This symposium sought to facilitate the sharing of resources, ideas, and information about all aspects of using new technologies in the teaching and learning of LCTLs. The symposium consisted of four parts:
1) Paper presentations on any topic related to the theme of the conference (i.e., the role of technology in language maintenance and revitalization, distance learning and LCTLs, using new technologies to teach LCTLs, research projects involving technology and LCTLs, etc.)
2) Hands-on workshops on topics related to the theme of the conference (i.e., using the Internet with non-romanized languages, accessing authentic foreign language media and information, using new computer software for teaching and learning LCTLs, using new technologies for creating language-learning materials,etc.)
3) Demonstrations of new authoring programs, computer software, and other technological tools and applications
4) Discussion groups organized on topics of common interest.
Spiderware Workshop WORKSHOP – July 15-19, 1996
This hands-on, project-oriented workshop provided an intensive introduction to the development of World Wide Web courseware (spiderware). We used images, audio, and animations for courseware development, focusing on the use of such materials on the Web for language education. The workshop was fast-paced and run at a higher-than-beginner technical level. Participants b