SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 17
Download to read offline
Towards  a  sustainable  
business  and  exploitation  
                         plan  
                Interim  Report    
           Project	
  Deliverables	
  no.	
  12/13	
  
                                         December	
  2011	
  
              	
  




                                                            	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under     a    Creative  Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
Executive	
  Summary	
  	
  
SpeakApps	
   is	
   a	
   free	
   and	
   open	
   source	
   online	
   platform,	
   aimed	
   at	
   language	
   teachers,	
   language	
  
schools	
  and	
  educational	
  institutions,	
  providing	
  them	
  with:	
  	
  
           Easy	
   access	
   to	
   innovative	
   and	
   interactive	
   online	
   tools	
   for	
   learning	
   and	
   teaching	
  
           languages	
  	
  
           Activities	
   and	
   tools	
   for	
   managing	
   materials	
   for	
   synchronous	
   and	
   asynchronous	
   oral	
  
           tasks	
  	
  
           Technical	
  and	
  pedagogical	
  guides	
  to	
  assist	
  SpeakApps	
  users	
  	
  
           A	
   facility	
   to	
   create	
   a	
   dedicated	
   e-­‐learning	
   environment	
   by	
   using	
   virtual	
   classrooms	
   to	
  
           carry	
  out	
  pedagogical	
  activities	
  
           A	
  common	
  digital	
  space	
  to	
  develop	
  and	
  exchange	
  oral	
  language	
  learning	
  materials	
  and	
  
           to	
  develop	
  new	
  software	
  within	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  environment	
  	
  
SpeakApps	
   leverages	
   technology	
   to	
   ensure	
   that	
   language	
   learners	
   have	
   a	
   dedicated	
   space	
   to	
  
engage	
   with	
   oral	
   language	
   activities.	
   The	
   platform	
   supports	
   active,	
   engaged	
   and	
   reflective	
  
learning	
   by	
   facilitating	
   feedback	
   and	
   performance	
   evaluation,	
   a	
   recognised	
   challenge	
   for	
   the	
  
online	
  language	
  teaching	
  and	
  learning	
  community.	
  Language	
  activities	
  have	
  been	
  developed	
  in	
  
six	
  European	
  languages;	
  Catalan,	
  Irish,	
  Dutch,	
  Swedish,	
  Polish	
  and	
  English.	
  	
  
	
                                             	
  




                                                                                                                                                    1	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
Table	
  of	
  Contents	
  
1         Introduction	
  .............................................................................................................................................................	
  3  
2         Designing	
  for	
  sustainability	
  ...............................................................................................................................	
  4  
3         Technical	
  Solution	
  and	
  Architecture	
  ..............................................................................................................	
  5  
       3.1        LANGBlog	
  
                          ..........................................................................................................................................................	
  5  
       3.2        Videoconferencing	
  tool	
  ...............................................................................................................................	
  6  
       3.3        Tandem	
  tool.....................................................................................................................................................	
  7  
       3.4        SpeakApps	
  Portal	
  ..........................................................................................................................................	
  8  
       3.5        SpeakApps	
  Platform	
  and	
  Cloud	
  Computing	
  .......................................................................................	
  8  
4         Market	
  Scan	
  and	
  Competitors	
  
                                              ...........................................................................................................................	
  9  
       4.1        Synchronous	
  Communication	
  ..................................................................................................................	
  9  
          4.1.1            Skype	
  .........................................................................................................................................................	
  9  
          4.1.2            Google	
  Applications	
  ............................................................................................................................	
  9  
          4.1.3            Adobe	
  Connect	
  ......................................................................................................................................	
  9  
          4.1.4            WebEx	
  Training	
  Centre	
  ..................................................................................................................	
  10  
       4.2        Asynchronous	
  Communication	
  ............................................................................................................	
  10  
          4.2.1            SoundCloud	
  .........................................................................................................................................	
  10  
          4.2.2            You	
  Tube	
  ..............................................................................................................................................	
  10  
       4.3        Platform	
  
                          ..........................................................................................................................................................	
  10  
5         Business	
  Model	
  ....................................................................................................................................................	
  11  
6         SpeakApps	
  Deliverables	
  &	
  Sustainability	
  .................................................................................................	
  12  
       6.1        User	
  Requirements	
  ....................................................................................................................................	
  12  
       6.2        Pilot	
  Studies	
  ..................................................................................................................................................	
  12  
       6.3        Teacher	
  Training	
  ........................................................................................................................................	
  12  
       6.4        Pedagogical	
  Design	
  ....................................................................................................................................	
  12  
       6.5        Social	
  Network	
  and	
  Community	
  Building	
  ........................................................................................	
  13  
       6.6        Technological	
  Solution	
  .............................................................................................................................	
  13  
       6.7        Dissemination	
  ..............................................................................................................................................	
  13  
7         Conclusion	
  ..............................................................................................................................................................	
  13  
8         References	
  ..............................................................................................................................................................	
  15  
	
  
	
                                                           	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                2	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
1                                                                                                                                                                                              	
  
The	
  aim	
  of	
  this	
  document	
  is	
  to	
  outline	
  the	
  integrated	
  approach	
  adopted	
  by	
  SpeakApps	
  project	
  
partners	
  to	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  SpeakApps	
  business	
  and	
  exploitation	
  plan.	
  The	
  rationale	
  for	
  this	
  
approach	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  a	
  belief	
  that	
  both	
  the	
  business	
  model	
  and	
  exploitation	
  plans	
  should	
  centre	
  
on	
  the	
  concept	
  of	
  sustainability.	
  Indeed,	
  the	
  centrality	
  and	
  importance	
  of	
  sustainability	
  should	
  
not	
   be	
   overlooked	
   in	
   the	
   context	
   of	
   the	
   rapidly	
   evolving	
   technological	
   environment.	
   The	
  
SpeakApps	
   Development	
   Team	
   has	
   already	
   advanced	
   the	
   use	
   of	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
  
platform	
   within	
   targeted	
   communities	
   of	
   language	
   learners	
   through	
   the	
   initial	
   stages	
   of	
   the	
  
project	
   via	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   user	
   requirements	
   survey,	
   SpeakApps	
   pilots,	
   and	
   various	
  
dissemination	
  activities.	
  	
  
This	
  document	
  incorporates	
  an	
  examination	
  of	
  some	
  of	
  the	
  key	
  sustainability	
  issues	
  that	
  were	
  
outlined	
  in	
   the	
   sustainability	
   roadmap	
   developed	
   by	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   partners1	
   and	
  illustrated	
   in	
  
Figure	
  1	
  below:	
  
Figure  1  -­‐  Sustainability  concepts  and  principles  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                	
  
	
  



	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
1	
  See	
  Sustainability	
  Plan	
  (WP5)	
                                                                                                                                                                                        	
  Roadmap,	
  September	
  2011	
  



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             3	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
The	
   future	
   exploitation	
   of	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   environment	
   is	
   thus	
   approached	
   from	
   both	
  
pedagogical	
   and	
  technological	
   perspectives.	
   Following	
  a	
   brief	
   discussion	
  of	
  sustainability	
  issues	
  
relating	
   to	
   design	
   and	
   pedagogical	
   activities,	
   this	
   interim	
   report	
   gives	
   an	
   overview	
   of	
   the	
  
technologies	
  powering	
  the	
  tools,	
  portal	
  and	
  platform	
  of	
  the	
   SpeakApps	
  project	
  and	
  considers	
  it	
  
main	
  competitors.	
  It	
  then	
  outlines	
  the	
  business	
  model	
  and	
  principles	
  adopted	
  by	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  
partners.	
   Finally,	
   it	
   considers	
   other	
   SpeakApps	
   deliverables	
   and	
   their	
   relationship	
   with	
   the	
  
overall	
  sustainability	
  plan.	
  


2                                                                                    	
  
Rogers	
  (2003:	
  183)	
  defines	
  the	
  concept	
  of	
  sustainability	
  as	
                              e	
  degree	
  to	
  which	
  an	
  innovation	
  
continues	
   to	
   be	
   used	
   over	
   time	
   after	
   a	
   diffusion	
   program	
                            	
   Drawing	
   on	
   this	
   definition,	
  
sustainability	
   can	
   be	
   defined	
   as	
   a	
                	
   ability	
   to	
   meet	
   its	
   goals	
   both	
   in	
  short-­‐term	
   and	
   long-­‐
term.	
  Designing	
  for	
  sustainability	
  is	
  designing	
  for	
  change	
  because	
  of	
  the	
  contemporary	
  nature	
  of	
  
pedagogical	
   and	
   technological	
   trends	
   and	
   needs.	
   In	
   this	
   sense,	
   the	
   sustainability	
   and	
   business	
  
strategy	
   acknowledge	
   the	
   dynamic	
   change	
   processes	
   in	
   relation	
   to	
   the	
   development	
   of	
   the	
  
SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
   platform.	
   From	
   the	
   technology	
   perspective	
   this	
   means	
   that	
  
interoperability	
  of	
  the	
  tools	
  and	
  various	
  Virtual	
  Learning	
  Environments	
  (VLEs)	
  must	
  be	
  taken	
  
into	
   account.	
   This	
   has	
   been	
   achieved	
   through	
   the	
   implementation	
   of	
   the	
   IMS	
   Learning	
   Tools	
  
Interoperability	
  specification	
  (see	
  section	
  3	
  below).	
  
There	
   is	
   however	
  a	
   strong	
   relationship	
   between	
   pedagogical	
   design	
   and	
   content	
   management	
  
across	
   different	
   e-­‐learning	
   environments	
   (Britain,	
   2011).	
   The	
   SpeakApps	
   pedagogical	
   plan	
   is	
  
formulated	
   on	
   the	
   premise	
   of	
   facilitating	
   and	
   supporting	
   oral	
   language	
   production	
   and	
  
acquisition	
  of	
  language	
  learners.	
  The	
  model	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  the	
  creation,	
  maintenance	
  and	
  growth	
  
of	
   communities	
   of	
   users	
   in	
   each	
   target	
   language	
   and	
   the	
   provision	
   and	
   development	
   of	
   open	
  
content.	
  Wiley	
  (2007:	
  5)	
  defines	
  sustainability	
  in	
  terms	
  of	
  Open	
  Educational	
  Resources	
  (OER)	
  as	
  
two-­‐fold:	
  
             Sustainability	
  of	
  the	
  production	
  and	
  sharing	
  of	
  resources	
  (pedagogical	
  activities)	
  
             Sustainability	
  of	
  the	
  use	
  and	
  reuse	
  of	
  the	
  resources	
  by	
  end	
  users	
  (whether	
  teachers	
  or	
  
             learners)	
  
The	
  project	
  provides	
  pedagogical	
   support	
  to	
  language	
  teachers	
  to	
  position	
  the	
   SpeakApps	
  tools	
  
in	
   line	
   with	
   their	
   own	
   pedagogical	
   coordinates,	
   through	
   the	
   provision	
   of	
   pedagogical	
   guides.	
  
These	
   guides	
   will	
   support	
   language	
   teachers	
   to	
   consider	
   these	
   tools	
   as	
   a	
   part	
   of	
   a	
   learning	
  
design,	
   to	
   choose	
   the	
   best	
   tools	
   for	
   a	
   particular	
   purpose,	
   and	
   to	
   build	
   activity	
   spans	
   that	
   tie	
  
together	
  different	
  tools	
  and	
  activities	
  supporting	
  the	
  learning	
  objectives.	
  Pedagogical	
  activities	
  
available	
  in	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  platforms	
  are	
  being	
  developed	
  cognisant	
  of	
  the	
  Common	
  European	
  
Reference	
   Framework	
   for	
   Languages	
   (CEFR).	
   This	
   is	
   an	
   important	
   feature	
   of	
   the	
   pedagogical	
  
component	
  of	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  project	
  as	
  it	
  ensures	
  that	
  the	
  proposed	
  language	
  learning	
  tasks	
  are	
  
benchmarked	
  to	
  this	
  standard.	
  	
  
Research	
   on	
   designing	
   for	
   learning	
   has	
   produced	
   a	
   rich	
   account	
   of	
   the	
   various	
   ways	
   of	
  
documenting	
  and	
  sharing	
  educational	
  practices	
  (see	
  for	
  example	
  Conole	
  et	
  al.	
  2007).	
  During	
  and	
  
after	
  the	
  project,	
  different	
  kinds	
  of	
  materials	
  are/will	
  be	
  produced,	
  and	
  these	
  materials	
  can	
  be	
  
considered	
   as	
   learning	
   objects.	
   To	
   ensure	
   sustainability,	
   the	
   learning	
   objects	
   need	
   to	
   be	
  
reusable.	
   Guides	
   to	
   the	
   development	
   of	
   activities	
   by	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   language	
   learning	
  
community	
   will	
   be	
   provided	
   on	
   the	
   platform	
   to	
   foster	
   and	
   to	
   nurture	
   a	
   vibrant	
   community	
   of	
  
practice.	
   In	
   particular,	
   the	
   social	
   feature	
   of	
   the	
   portal	
   will	
   act	
   as	
   an	
   interactive	
   and	
   reflective	
  
resource	
   for	
   activity	
   developers	
   and	
   users,	
   and	
   it	
   will	
   support	
   their	
   interaction	
   with	
   other	
  
language	
  teachers.	
  Activity	
  guides	
  will	
  also	
  provide	
  clear	
  pedagogical	
  instruction	
  and	
  advice	
  to	
  


                                                                                                                                                                      4	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
activity	
   developers.	
   These	
   pedagogical	
   guides	
   and	
   templates	
   are	
   validated	
   by	
   the	
   members	
   of	
  
the	
  project	
  during	
  the	
  pilot	
  studies,	
  and	
  their	
  theoretical	
  underpinnings	
  are	
  made	
  explicit.	
  	
  
One	
   of	
   the	
   problems	
   in	
   current	
   teaching	
   material	
   repositories	
   is	
   that	
   the	
   amount	
   of	
   material	
  
tends	
   to	
   grow	
   fast	
   and	
   soon	
   becomes	
   inaccessible	
   if	
   no	
   clear	
   organizational	
   structure	
   is	
  
presented.	
   The	
   design	
   of	
   the	
   platform	
   is	
   cognisant	
   of	
   these	
   issues.	
   More	
   specifically,	
   and	
  
following	
   Conole	
   (forthcoming),	
   we	
   believe	
   that	
   a	
   shared	
   language	
   to	
   describe	
   learning	
  
activities	
   is	
   needed.	
   Through	
   the	
   design	
   and	
   piloting	
   of	
   templates,	
   the	
   project	
   is	
   developing	
   a	
  
method	
   and	
   associated	
   metadata	
   to	
   describe	
   learning	
   tasks.	
   The	
   completion	
   of	
   pilot	
   studies	
  
across	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   language	
   set	
   ensures	
   a	
   dynamic	
   and	
   iterative	
   approach	
   to	
   the	
  
development	
   of	
   this	
   shared	
   language,	
   while	
   remaining	
   cognisant	
   of	
   Learning	
   Design	
  
specifications	
  and	
  developments	
  (see	
  for	
  example	
  Koper	
  &	
  Tattersall,	
  2005).	
  
The	
   effectiveness	
   of	
   the	
   project	
   depends	
   on	
   both	
                             	
   and	
             	
   interest	
   to	
  
acknowledge	
   the	
  SpeakApps	
   tools	
   as	
   relevant	
   tools	
   for	
   learning,	
   and	
   to	
   be	
  able	
   to	
   set	
   them	
  in	
  
line	
  with	
  the	
  learning	
   objectives.	
  To	
  promote	
  the	
  use	
   of	
  the	
  tools,	
  the	
  project	
  aims	
  to	
   overcome	
  
the	
   most	
   common	
   obstacles	
   in	
   using	
   learning	
   technologies,	
   e.g.	
   lack	
   of	
   resources	
   and	
   lack	
   of	
  
support.	
  This	
  can	
  be	
  addressed	
  through	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  a	
  repository	
  of	
  tasks,	
  the	
  support	
  
and	
   provision	
  of	
   an	
   online	
   community	
  space,	
  and	
  the	
   availability	
  of	
   technical	
   and	
   pedagogical	
  
guides	
  to	
  users.	
  	
  


3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      	
  
Consideration	
   of	
   sustainability	
   has	
   guided	
   the	
   selection	
   and	
   use	
   of	
   open	
   source	
   technologies	
  
underpinning	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
   platform.	
   As	
   mentioned	
   earlier,	
   the	
   project	
   is	
  
implementing	
   an	
   international	
   specification	
   model,	
   IMS	
   Learning	
   Tools	
   Interoperability,	
   to	
  
support	
   the	
   interoperability	
   of	
   the	
   tools	
   with	
   other	
   Learning	
   Management	
   Systems	
   (LMS)	
   or	
  
Content	
  Management	
  Systems.	
  
SpeakApps	
  technical	
  solution	
  incorporates	
  three	
  main	
  elements:	
  
                             1. A	
  place	
  to	
  find	
  information,	
  guides	
  and	
  demos	
  of	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  tools.	
   Tasks	
  developed	
  
                                for	
  these	
  tools	
  will	
  also	
  be	
  available	
  to	
  the	
  wider	
  community.	
  
                             2. A	
   place	
   to	
   download	
   tools	
   and	
   material	
   for	
   oral	
   skill	
   practice	
   and	
   to	
   participate	
   in	
   a	
  
                                social	
  network.	
  
                             3. A	
  place	
  to	
  set	
  up	
  an	
  e-­‐learning	
  environment	
  if	
  you	
  would	
  like	
  to	
  use	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  tools	
  
                                but	
  do	
  not	
  have	
  an	
  LMS	
  to	
  integrate	
  them	
  into.	
  
The	
  SpeakApps	
  platform	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  a	
  cloud	
  computing	
  infrastructure.	
  The	
  platform	
  will	
  host	
  
the	
   SpeakApps	
   tools,	
   provide	
   the	
   capacity	
   to	
   develop	
   a	
   dedicated	
   e-­‐learning	
   environment	
   for	
  
individual	
  users	
  and	
   support	
  a	
   social	
  space	
   to	
  exchange	
   and	
   develop	
   pedagogical	
  materials.	
  The	
  
SpeakApps	
  tools	
  include	
  an	
  audio	
  blog,	
  a	
  video	
  conferencing	
  and	
  tandem	
  tool.	
  The	
  SpeakApps	
  
portal	
   is	
   based	
   on	
   Moodle2	
   and	
   Mahara3	
   technology.	
   To	
   support	
   the	
   development	
   of	
   an	
  
individual	
   e-­‐learning	
   environment,	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   platform	
   draws	
   on	
   the	
   Amazon	
   EC24	
   web	
  
service	
  to	
  provide	
  a	
  customisable	
  cloud	
  computing	
  solution.	
  The	
  following	
  sections	
  provide	
  an	
  
overview	
  of	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  tools,	
  portal	
  and	
  platform.	
  


3.1 LANGBlog	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
2	
  Moodle:	
  http://moodle.org/	
  
3	
  Mahara:	
  http://mahara.org/	
  
4	
  Amazon	
  Elastic	
  Cloud	
  Compute:	
  http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
LANGBlog	
   is	
   an	
   audioblog	
   facilitating	
   the	
   practicing	
   of	
   oral	
   skills	
   of	
   a	
   user.	
   LANGBlog	
  
functionalities	
  support	
  audio,	
  video	
  and	
  textual	
  posting.	
  LANGBlog	
  is	
  adopted	
  from	
  WordPress	
   	
  
the	
   most	
   common	
   blog	
   technology	
   used	
   on	
   the	
   Internet.	
   Wordpress5	
   is	
   an	
   open	
   source	
   web	
  
application	
   underpinned	
   by	
   PHP	
   and	
   MySQL.	
   The	
   WordPress	
   architecture	
   allows	
   for	
   the	
  
expansion	
  of	
  the	
  functionality	
  through	
  the	
  addition	
  of	
  plug-­‐ins.	
  LANGBlog	
  has	
  been	
  developed	
  in	
  
this	
  way	
  to	
  support	
  video	
  and	
  audio	
  functionalities	
  and	
  to	
  facilitate	
  the	
  integration	
  of	
  LANGBlog	
  
into	
  portals	
  and	
  other	
  platforms.	
  	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Figure  2.  LANGBlog  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                	
  

3.2 Videoconferencing	
  tool	
  
This	
  tool	
  supports	
  a	
  video	
  conference	
  of	
  up	
  to	
  six	
  participants	
  using	
  audio	
   or	
  video.	
  The	
  tool	
   is	
  
an	
  open	
  source	
  tool	
  and	
  chat	
  application,	
  underpinned	
  by	
  the	
  following	
  technologies:	
  Java,	
  Flash	
  
and	
  Red5.	
  The	
  functionalities	
  of	
  the	
  tool	
  include	
  that	
  each	
  participant	
  can	
  initiate	
  a	
  conference	
  
thus	
  supporting	
   both	
  supervised	
   and	
   independent	
   synchronous	
   communication	
   sessions.	
   Other	
  
functionalities	
  associated	
  with	
  this	
  tool	
  include	
  the	
  recording	
  and	
  archiving	
  of	
  conferences.	
  An	
  
important	
   feature	
   of	
   the	
   tool	
   is	
   its	
   usability	
   i.e.	
   the	
   tool	
   is	
   designed	
   based	
   on	
   the	
   principle	
   of	
  
simplicity	
   and	
   to	
   ensure	
  that	
   participants	
   are	
   engaged	
   with	
   learning	
   as	
   opposed	
   to	
  mastering	
  
the	
  functionality	
  of	
  the	
   tool	
   or	
  its	
  underlying	
  technology.	
   At	
   present,	
   the	
   tool	
   incorporates	
   these	
  
two	
  main	
  features:	
  
1.	
  Videoconferencing	
  and	
  recording	
  tool:	
  
                                                           Up	
  to	
  six	
  participants	
  
                                                           Integrated	
  recording	
  and	
  archiving	
  
                                                           Written	
  chat	
  	
  
                                                           Mute	
  mike	
  option	
  
                                                           Tandem	
  tool	
  integration	
  

	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
5	
  Wordpress:	
  http://wordpress.com/	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       6	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
	
  2.	
  Player	
  	
  
                  Archived	
  file	
  player	
  
                  Search	
  facility	
  
                  Separate	
  channels	
  for	
  each	
  participant	
  	
  
                  Download	
  feature	
  for	
  participants	
  	
  
                                                       Figure  3  -­‐  Videoconferencing  




                                                                                                                                   	
  

3.3 Tandem	
  tool	
  
The	
  Tandem	
  tool	
  is	
  designed	
  to	
  support	
  students	
  to	
  work	
  on	
  a	
  task	
  together	
  in	
  a	
  synchronous	
  
medium.	
   The	
   tool	
   is	
   powered	
   by	
   PHP	
   and	
   uses	
   the	
   Moodle	
   classroom	
   or	
   a	
   Mahara	
   group	
   to	
  
connect	
  two	
  students	
  to	
  complete	
  their	
  language	
  learning	
  task.	
  Students	
  can	
  be	
  given	
  differing	
  
content	
  to	
  support	
  their	
  interaction	
  and	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  goal-­‐oriented	
  communication	
  activities.	
  The	
  
tool	
   maintains	
   three	
   interfaces	
   for	
   students,	
   teachers	
   and	
   administrators	
   and	
   the	
   tool	
   is	
  
independent	
   of	
   the	
   communication	
   technology	
   used.	
   The	
   tandem	
   tool	
   will	
   be	
   part	
   of	
   the	
  
SpeakApps	
  platform.	
  	
  




                                                                                                                                                      7	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Figure  4.  The  tandem  tool  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         	
  

3.4 	
  SpeakApps	
  Portal	
  	
  
The	
  SpeakApps	
  portal	
  facilitates	
  both	
  formal	
  and	
  informal	
  learning	
  opportunities	
  and	
  is	
  based	
  
on	
   Moodle	
   and	
   Mahara	
   Technologies.	
   Moodle	
   is	
   an	
   open	
   source	
   LMS,	
   which	
   allows	
   users	
   to	
  
create	
  online	
  learning	
  environments.	
  At	
  present	
  there	
  are	
  over	
  seventy	
  two	
  thousand	
  registered	
  
Moodle	
   sites	
   (Moodle,	
   2011)	
   with	
   over	
   five	
   million	
   courses.	
   Mahara	
   is	
   an	
   open	
   source	
   e-­‐
portfolio	
   system	
   with	
   social	
   networking	
   features.	
   Its	
   design	
   replicates	
   the	
   modular	
   principles	
  
associated	
  with	
  Moodle	
  and	
  both	
  technologies	
  can	
   be	
  readily	
  integrated.	
  The	
  SpeakApps	
  portal	
  
will	
  be	
  available	
  to	
  users	
  through	
  a	
  cloud	
  computing	
  paradigm.	
  


3.5 SpeakApps	
  Platform	
  and	
  Cloud	
  Computing	
  	
  
The	
  SpeakApps	
   platform	
  is	
   based	
   in	
   the	
   cloud.	
   Users	
   who	
   have	
   decided	
   to	
   avail	
   of	
   the	
   complete	
  
SpeakApps	
  technical	
  solution	
  will	
  access	
   this	
   environment	
   through	
  the	
   Internet.	
   Amazon	
   Elastic	
  
Cloud	
  Compute	
  (Amazon	
  EC2)	
  will	
  host	
  the	
  e-­‐learning	
  environment.	
  This	
  service	
  provides	
  true	
  
flexibility	
   by	
   facilitating	
   the	
   required	
   increase	
   or	
   decrease	
   in	
   computing	
   capacity;	
   it	
   also	
  
provides	
  a	
  number	
  of	
  security	
  mechanisms	
  to	
  protect	
  users	
  and	
  resources.	
  An	
  additional	
  benefit	
  
of	
  using	
  Amazon	
  EC2	
  is	
  the	
  pricing	
  structure6	
  and	
  the	
  rates	
  paid	
  for	
  computing	
  resources.	
  The	
  
pricing	
   model	
   is	
   based	
   on	
   utility,	
   with	
   no	
   minimum	
   fee.	
   This	
   will	
   be	
   further	
   detailed	
   in	
   the	
   final	
  
business	
  plan	
  (see	
  also	
  section	
  5).	
  




	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
6	
  For	
  information	
  on	
  Amazon	
  EC2	
  Pricing,	
  see	
  http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      	
  
SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
   applications	
   are	
   situated	
   in	
   a	
   dynamic	
   environment	
   with	
   blurred	
  
boundaries.	
   Cloud	
   computing	
   and	
   the	
   paradigm	
   of	
   Software	
   as	
   a	
   Service ,	
   underpin	
   the	
  
development	
   of	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
   platform.	
   In	
   spite	
   of	
   the	
   move	
   to	
   a	
   cloud	
   computing	
  
environment,	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  project	
  is	
  cognisant	
  of	
  the	
  attractiveness	
  of	
  LMS	
  systems	
  such	
  as	
  
Blackboard	
   and	
   Moodle	
   to	
   support	
   learning.	
   As	
   such,	
   SpeakApps	
   applications	
   are	
   designed	
   to	
  
plug-­‐in	
  within	
  these	
  environments.	
  	
  
Both	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   platform	
   and	
   applications	
   have	
   a	
   number	
   of	
   direct	
   and	
   indirect	
  
competitors.	
   The	
   following	
   section	
   briefly	
   outlines	
   some	
   of	
   these	
   competitors	
   and	
   their	
  
offerings	
   in	
   the	
   context	
   of	
   the	
   mode	
   of	
   communication	
   facilitated	
   by	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
  
Applications.	
   Further	
   details	
   and	
   other	
   tools	
   and	
   technologies	
   in	
   this	
   space	
   can	
   be	
   found	
   in	
  
State-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art	
   report	
   for	
   teachers:	
   a	
   review	
   of	
   tools	
   for	
   speaking,	
   Project	
   Deliverable	
   no.	
   3,	
  
December	
  2011.	
  


4.1 Synchronous	
  Communication	
  	
  
4.1.1 Skype	
  
Skype	
  is	
  an	
  application	
  supporting	
  voice	
  and	
  video	
  calls	
  over	
  the	
  Internet,	
  by	
  using	
  Voice	
  Over	
  
Internet	
  Protocol	
  (VOIP).	
  Skype	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  a	
  peer	
  to	
  peer	
  (P2P)	
  paradigm	
  i.e.	
  users	
  download	
  
software	
   on	
   their	
   device	
   before	
   being	
   able	
   to	
   connect	
   using	
   Skype.	
   Entry	
   level	
   services	
   are	
  
available	
  to	
  users	
  free	
  of	
  charge	
  and	
  include	
  both	
  voice	
  and	
  video	
  calls.	
  Subscription	
  charges	
  are	
  
based	
  on	
  service	
  level,	
  based	
  on	
  a	
  utility	
  model	
  i.e.	
  pay	
  as	
  you	
  go.	
  Skype	
  is	
  available	
  on	
  a	
  wide	
  
range	
   of	
   devices	
   including	
   Smart	
   phones	
   and	
   Digital	
   TVs.	
   Skype	
   was	
   acquired	
   by	
   Microsoft	
   in	
  
2011.	
  

4.1.2 	
  Google	
  Applications	
  
Google	
   offers	
   a	
   number	
   of	
   applications	
   supporting	
   synchronous	
   communication.	
   Google	
  
Chat/Talk	
  and	
  Google	
  Hangout	
  are	
  two	
  examples	
   of	
  these	
  applications	
  which	
  are	
  available	
  free	
  
of	
  charge	
  and	
  which	
  are	
  integrated	
  within	
  Google's	
  wider	
  cloud	
  platform	
  accessed	
  via	
  Google's	
  
email	
   application,	
   Gmail.	
   Google	
   Chat	
   is	
   a	
   plug-­‐in	
   that	
   facilitates	
   both	
   video	
   and	
   audio	
  
communication	
  via	
  Gmail	
  with	
  other	
  Gmail	
  users.	
  Google	
  Talk	
  supports	
  textual	
  communication	
  
through	
   instant	
   messaging,	
   file	
   transfer	
   and	
   audio	
   conferencing	
   (multiple	
   users).	
   Google	
  
Hangouts	
  provide	
  a	
  video	
  and	
  audio	
  working	
  or	
  social	
  space	
  for	
  up	
  to	
  nine	
  users	
  browsing	
  the	
  
web,	
  who	
  are	
  invited	
   into	
  that	
  space,	
  thus	
  providing	
  an	
  area	
  for	
  groups.	
  These	
  applications	
  are	
  
available	
  to	
  users	
  free	
  of	
  charge	
  and	
  run	
  across	
  devices.	
  	
  

4.1.3 	
  Adobe	
  Connect	
  
Adobe	
   Connect7	
   is	
   a	
   commercial	
   platform	
   designed	
   to	
   support	
   virtual	
   communication.	
   The	
  
platform	
   technologies	
   support	
   synchronous	
   communication	
   and	
   provide	
   advanced	
   features	
  
such	
  as	
  the	
  recording	
  of	
  audio	
  and	
  video	
  interactions,	
  accessing	
  recording	
  must	
  be	
  completed	
  
through	
  Adobe	
  Connect	
  i.e.	
  recordings	
  are	
  not	
  saved	
  to	
  local	
  environments.	
  Virtual	
  classrooms	
  
can	
   be	
   established	
   in	
   Connect	
   supporting	
   group	
   work	
   and	
   conferencing	
   for	
   up	
   to	
   twenty	
   five	
  
participants.	
   A	
   reduced	
   feature	
   version	
   of	
   Connect	
   is	
   also	
   available	
   for	
   mobile	
   devices.	
   Adobe	
  

	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
7	
  Adobe	
  Connect:	
  http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
Connect	
   offers	
   a	
   discounted	
   utility	
   and	
   membership	
   pricing	
   model	
   for	
   institutional	
   and	
  
individual	
  consumers	
  for	
  both	
  public	
  and	
  private	
  educational	
  concerns.	
  

4.1.4 	
  WebEx	
  Training	
  Centre	
  
WebEx	
   Training	
   Centre8	
   is	
   another	
   solution	
   for	
   the	
   corporate	
   and	
   educational	
   online	
   training	
  
and	
  learning	
  markets	
  and	
  is	
  a	
  company	
  of	
  the	
  global	
  corporation	
  Cisco	
  Systems.	
  The	
  Training	
  
Centre	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  WebEx	
  popular	
  online	
  meeting	
  platform	
  but	
  has	
  been	
  developed	
  to	
  provide	
  
additional	
  functionality.	
  This	
  functionality	
  includes	
  features	
  similar	
  to	
  those	
  of	
  Adobe	
  Connect.	
  
WebEx	
  Training	
  Centre	
  is	
  interoperable	
  with	
  LMS	
   and	
  support	
  for	
  interoperability	
  is	
  provided.	
  
WebEx	
   Training	
   Centre	
   can	
   support	
   up	
   to	
   1000	
   participants.	
   WebEx	
   Meeting	
   Centre	
   is	
   a	
  
reduced	
  feature	
  version	
  of	
  the	
  feature-­‐rich	
  WebEx	
  Training	
  Centre,	
  which	
  scales	
  from	
  8	
  to	
  500	
  
participants	
   and	
   is	
   available	
   on	
   mobile	
   device.	
   Both	
   standard	
   and	
   upgraded	
   versions	
   of	
   the	
  
software	
   are	
   available	
   and	
   the	
   pricing	
   structure	
   is	
   differentiated	
   on	
   functionality	
   and	
   usage	
  
arrangements.	
  	
  


4.2 	
  Asynchronous	
  Communication	
  	
  
4.2.1 SoundCloud	
  
SoundCloud9	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  a	
  social	
  media	
  paradigm	
  and	
  encourages	
  users	
  to	
  register	
  and	
  upload	
  
their	
   recordings.	
   Once	
   registered	
   the	
   user	
   uses	
   the	
   software	
   available	
   through	
   SoundCloud	
   to	
  
record	
  their	
  sounds	
  or	
  download	
  an	
  application	
  to	
  their	
  mobile	
  phone	
  to	
  complete	
  and	
  upload	
  a	
  
recording.	
   Similar	
   to	
   other	
   social	
   media	
   environments,	
   users	
   can	
   share	
   their	
   recordings;	
  
feedback	
   can	
   be	
   given	
   from	
   others	
   listening	
   to	
   your	
   recording	
   by	
   using	
   the	
   time-­‐stamp	
  
comment	
  feature.	
  A	
  user's	
  recordings	
  can	
  be	
  made	
  available	
  via	
  other	
  social	
  media	
  communities	
  
such	
  as	
  Facebook.	
  	
  

4.2.2 	
  You	
  Tube	
  
You	
   Tube	
   allows	
   users	
   to	
   post	
   and	
   share	
   video	
   materials	
   online.	
   You	
   Tube	
   is	
   a	
   subscription	
  
based	
  serviced	
  with	
  a	
  wide	
  breadth	
  of	
  functionality	
  based	
  on	
  subscription	
  type.	
  Users	
  have	
  the	
  
option	
   of	
   creating	
   their	
   own	
   You	
   Tube	
   channel	
   to	
   author,	
   edit	
   and	
   manage	
   their	
   own	
   posted	
  
videos.	
   Users	
   can	
   also	
   share	
   video	
   posting	
   both	
   publicly	
   or	
   through	
   restricted	
   invitation	
   only	
  
access	
  for	
  up	
  to	
  twenty	
  five	
   other	
   users.	
   You	
  Tube	
  provides	
  an	
   annotation	
   feature,	
   which	
   allows	
  
users	
  to	
  provide	
  textual	
  comment	
  to	
  video	
  materials.	
  You	
  Tube	
  video	
  can	
  be	
  embedded	
  in	
  other	
  
platforms	
   and	
   can	
   be	
   accessed	
   and	
   integrated	
   with	
   email	
   platforms	
   such	
   as	
   GMail	
   and	
   social	
  
media	
  networks	
  such	
  as	
  Facebook.	
  You	
                        	
  entry	
  level	
  service	
  is	
  free	
  of	
  charge	
  to	
  users.	
  	
  


4.3 Platform	
  	
  
The	
   SpeakApps	
   platform	
   can	
   be	
   considered	
   as	
   a	
   learning	
   management	
   system	
   or	
   virtual	
  
learning	
   environment.	
  The	
   LMS	
  market	
   is	
   dynamic	
   and	
  consists	
   of	
   both	
  commercial	
   and	
  open	
  
source	
   players.	
   Examples	
   of	
   commercial	
   companies	
   in	
   this	
   market	
   include	
   Blackboard	
   and	
  
examples	
  of	
  open	
  source	
  companies	
  include	
  Moodle	
  and	
  Joomla10.	
  A	
  joint	
  venture	
  by	
  Google	
  and	
  

	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
8	
  WebEx	
  Training	
  Centre:	
  http://www.webex.com/	
  
9	
  SoundCloud:	
  http://soundcloud.com/	
  
10	
  Joomla:	
  http://www.joomla.org/	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       10	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
Pearson,	
  indicate	
  the	
  continued	
  evolution	
  of	
  this	
  market	
  with	
  the	
  launch	
  of	
  OpenClass11	
  a	
  free	
  
LMS	
   	
   which	
   provides	
   course	
   management	
   tools	
   and	
   advanced	
   social	
   networking	
   and	
  
community	
   building	
   capacities	
   (Fischmann,	
   2011).	
   This	
   project	
   however	
   is	
   currently	
   in	
  
development	
  and	
  remains	
  unavailable	
  to	
  users.	
  	
  


5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       	
  
The	
  close	
  integration	
  of	
  pedagogical	
  and	
  technological	
  design	
  is	
  evidence	
  of	
   the	
  distinctiveness	
  
of	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
   platform	
   in	
   relation	
   to	
   its	
   competitors	
   and	
   is	
   at	
   the	
   core	
   of	
   its	
  
business	
   model.	
   The	
   latter	
   is	
   based	
   primarily	
   on	
   developing	
   a	
   community	
   of	
   users	
   by	
   providing	
  
free	
   access	
   for	
   all	
   users	
   to	
   the	
   web	
   2.0	
   tools	
   and	
   associated	
   learning	
   materials	
   that	
   are	
   being	
  
iteratively	
   developed	
   throughout	
   the	
   lifespan	
   of	
   the	
   project.	
   Since	
   they	
   are	
   based	
   on	
   the	
   IMS	
  
Learning	
   Tools	
   Interoperability	
   specification,	
   the	
   SpeakAppss	
   tools	
   can	
   be	
   integrated	
   into	
   a	
  
wide	
   range	
   of	
   existing	
   educational,	
   content	
   and	
   social	
   media	
   platforms	
   such	
   as	
   Moodle,	
  
Blackboard,	
   and	
   Mahara.	
   Users	
   will	
   therefore	
   be	
   able	
   to	
   download	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
  
integrate	
  them	
  within	
  their	
  own	
  technological	
  contexts,	
  provided	
  that	
  they	
  have	
  the	
  resources	
  
and	
  appropriate	
  technical	
  skills	
  or	
  support	
  to	
  do	
  so.	
  All	
  teaching	
  and	
  learning	
  materials	
  will	
  be	
  
accessible	
   under	
   a	
   Creative	
   Commons	
   licence,	
   similar	
   to	
   the	
   one	
   applicable	
   to	
   this	
   document	
  
(e.g.	
  BY,	
  NC,	
  SA).	
  
For	
  those	
  who	
  do	
  not	
  have	
  access	
  to	
  the	
  necessary	
  resources	
  and	
  support,	
  it	
  is	
  envisaged	
  that	
  
the	
   Universitat	
   Oberta	
   de	
   Catalunya	
   (UOC)	
   will	
   continue	
   to	
   maintain	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   platform	
  
and	
  tools	
  after	
  the	
  project	
  is	
  completed.	
  In	
  order	
  to	
  support	
  UOC	
  in	
  this	
  endeavour,	
  the	
  business	
  
model	
   will	
   allow	
   for	
   the	
   provision	
   of	
   a	
   subscription	
   based	
   dedicated	
   e-­‐learning	
   environment	
  
with	
  virtual	
  classrooms	
  for	
  users.	
  This	
  ancillary	
  service	
  is	
  based	
  on	
  the	
  concept	
  of	
   software	
  as	
  a	
  
service ,	
   and	
   will	
   provide	
   a	
   range	
   of	
   LMS	
   functionalities	
   to	
   users.	
   The	
   service	
   will	
   be	
   offered	
  
using	
  a	
  subscription	
  paradigm	
   in	
  line	
  with	
  Amazon	
  EC2	
  pricing	
  structure	
  (mentioned	
   earlier	
   in	
  
section	
   3.5),	
   with	
   subscriptions	
   commensurate	
   with	
   usage	
   and	
   based	
   on	
   technical	
   costs	
   of	
  
hosting	
   and	
   maintenance.	
   To	
   assist	
   in	
   the	
   setting	
   up	
   of	
   an	
   appropriate	
   price	
   plan,	
   all	
   project	
  
partners	
  will	
  conduct	
  an	
  appraisal	
  of	
  user	
  statistics	
  and	
  interactions	
  with	
  the	
  platform	
  and	
  tools	
  
by	
   the	
   end	
   of	
   the	
   project	
   life-­‐cycle	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   establish	
   the	
   potential	
   demand	
  for	
   the	
   services	
   for	
  
each	
   language.	
   UOC	
   will	
   also	
   provide	
   detailed	
   technical	
   and	
   maintenance	
   costs	
   as	
   well	
   as	
  
develop	
  scenarios	
  of	
  use	
  and	
  break	
   even	
   points	
   (e.g.	
   projected	
   number	
   of	
   students/teachers	
   for	
  
the	
  next	
  two	
  years	
   and	
   associated	
  costs)	
   that	
  are	
   cognizant	
   of	
   potential	
   requirements	
  for	
   future	
  
upgrades.	
   These	
   projections	
   and	
   financial	
  scenarios	
   will	
   form	
   the	
   basis	
  for	
   a	
   SpeakApps	
   price	
  
plan	
  and	
  the	
  drawing	
  of	
  agreements	
  between	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  Consortium	
  and	
  organisations	
  or	
  
individual	
  teachers	
  interested	
  in	
  bringing	
  their	
  classes	
  to	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  platform.	
  
In	
   recognition	
   of	
   the	
   25%	
   share	
   of	
   the	
   total	
   project	
   budget	
   committed	
   by	
   the	
   partner	
  
institutions	
  during	
  the	
  project	
  lifespan	
  and	
  of	
  the	
                             	
  contribution	
  to	
  the	
  development	
  and	
  
piloting	
  of	
  tools	
  and	
  tasks,	
  UOC	
  will	
  provide	
  free	
  access	
  to	
  partner	
  institutions	
  for	
  at	
  least	
  a	
  year	
  
after	
   completion	
   of	
   the	
   project.	
   The	
   other	
   partners	
   will	
   continue	
   to	
   provide	
   teaching	
   and	
  
learning	
   materials	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   steward	
   the	
   community	
   of	
   users.	
   A	
   new	
   consortium	
   agreement,	
  
based	
   on	
   the	
   initial	
   one,	
   will	
   be	
   drawn	
   with	
   a	
   view	
   to	
   establish	
   governance	
   principles	
   and	
  
operations,	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  conditions	
  and	
  rules	
  for	
  the	
  distribution	
  or	
  re-­‐investment	
  of	
  profits	
  if	
  any.	
  	
  




	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
11	
  To	
  learn	
  more	
  about	
  OpenClass,	
  see:	
  http://www.joinopenclass.com/open/view/t1	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       11	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
6                                                                                                                      	
  
This	
   section	
   considers	
   issues	
   of	
   sustainability	
   in	
   terms	
   of	
   other	
   SpeakApps	
   deliverables	
   and	
  
how	
  these	
  deliverable	
  link	
  into	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  business	
  model.	
  	
  


6.1 User	
  Requirements	
  
The	
   SpeakApps	
   Development	
   Team	
   is	
   conducting	
   a	
   comprehensive	
   survey	
   of	
   user	
  
requirements.	
   These	
   requirements	
   are	
   used	
   to	
   guide	
   both	
   technological	
   and	
   pedagogical	
  
elements	
  of	
  the	
  project.	
  The	
  dissemination	
  of	
  the	
  user	
  survey	
  has	
  also	
  brought	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  
project	
  to	
  the	
  attention	
  to	
  a	
  wide-­‐range	
  of	
  users	
  in	
  each	
  of	
  the	
  target	
  languages	
  as	
  is	
  the	
  first	
  of	
  a	
  
series	
  of	
  steps	
  to	
  build	
  a	
  SpeakApps	
  user	
  community.	
  


6.2 Pilot	
  Studies	
  	
  
Carrying	
   out	
   pilot	
   studies	
   ensures	
   that	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   tools	
   and	
   applications	
   are	
   being	
  
conducted	
   by	
   teachers	
   within	
   partner	
   institutions	
   and	
   in	
   concert	
   with	
   other	
   external	
   bodies.	
  
Partners	
   jointly	
   define	
   guidelines	
   for	
   pedagogical	
   activities.	
   The	
   pilot	
   studies	
   are	
   based	
   on	
  
cooperative	
  design	
  methods	
  to	
  promote	
  the	
  development	
  of	
                   	
  ownership	
  and	
  authorship	
  in	
  
regard	
   to	
   new	
   pedagogical	
   designs.	
   Further	
   rounds	
   of	
   pilot	
   studies	
   will	
   continue	
   to	
   support	
  
development	
  in	
  the	
  context	
  of	
  the	
  technological	
  and	
  pedagogical	
  elements	
  of	
  the	
  project.	
  	
  


6.3 Teacher	
  Training	
  
The	
  teacher	
  training	
  deliverable	
  provides	
  a	
  mechanism	
  to	
  train	
  language	
  teachers	
  in	
  the	
  use	
  of	
  
the	
   SpeakApps	
   activities,	
   tools	
   and	
   platform.	
   It	
   will	
   initially	
   train	
   teachers	
   and	
   the	
   results	
   of	
  
these	
  sessions	
  will	
  be	
  used	
  to	
  refine	
  further	
  training.	
  	
  
For	
   sustainable	
   development,	
   teachers	
   need	
   to	
   be	
   offered	
   opportunities	
   to	
   explore	
   the	
   role	
  of	
  
technology	
  in	
  relation	
  to	
  their	
  concept	
  of	
  language	
  and	
  learning.	
  Building	
  upon	
  the	
  experience	
  
gained	
   in	
   teacher	
   training	
  at	
   the	
   University	
   of	
   Jyväskylä	
   and	
   UOC,	
   the	
   SpeakApps	
   Consortium	
   is	
  
developing	
  a	
  model	
  for	
  teacher	
  training	
  that	
  incorporates	
  the	
  following	
  aims:	
  	
  
             teachers	
   learn	
   the	
   basic	
   concepts	
   of	
   task	
   design	
   and	
   develop	
   open	
   resources	
   for	
  
             developing	
  spoken	
  skills;	
  
             teachers	
   learn	
   the	
   basic	
   concepts	
   of	
   open	
   educational	
   resources	
   and	
   open	
  
             communication;	
  
             teachers	
  learn	
  to	
  use	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  tools	
  in	
  pedagogically	
  meaningful	
  ways;	
  	
  	
  
             teachers	
   reflect	
   on	
   pedagogical	
   practices	
   with	
   these	
   tools	
   by	
  exposure	
   to	
   best	
   practice	
  

             examples;	
  
             teachers	
   become	
   familiar	
   with	
   and	
   contribute	
   to	
   guides	
   and	
   training	
   materials	
   which	
  
             will	
  be	
  freely	
  available	
  
to	
  use	
  or	
  adapt	
  to	
  other	
  specific	
  contexts.	
  
The	
   approach	
   places	
   the	
   teacher	
   into	
   central	
   focus	
   and	
   emphasizes	
   the	
   professional	
   learning	
  
aspect	
   in	
   order	
   to	
   support	
   the	
   sustainability	
   of	
   development.	
   Moreover,	
   it	
   aims	
   to	
   engage	
  
teachers	
  in	
  a	
  learning	
  process	
  in	
  which	
  they	
  explore	
   the	
  affordances	
  of	
   the	
   new	
  tools	
  in	
  relation	
  
to	
  their	
  pedagogical	
  concepts,	
  needs	
  and	
  current	
  designs.	
  


6.4 Pedagogical	
  Design	
  



                                                                                                                                                                  12	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
A	
  set	
  of	
  tasks	
  and	
  materials	
  for	
  the	
  teaching	
  and	
  learning	
  of	
  spoken	
  skills	
  using	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  
tools	
   will	
  be	
  available	
  to	
  language	
  teachers	
   from	
   the	
   platform.	
  These	
   tasks	
   and	
   materials	
   will	
  be	
  
underpinned	
   by	
   current	
   learning	
   theories	
   and	
   pedagogical	
   frameworks,	
   which	
   will	
   be	
   made	
  
explicit	
   and	
   accessible	
   to	
   language	
   teachers	
   from	
   a	
   variety	
   of	
   backgrounds.	
   More	
   specifically,	
  
guidelines,	
  templates	
  and	
   various	
  project	
   reports,	
  such	
  as	
   the	
   State	
  of	
   the	
   art	
  report	
   for	
   teachers	
  
(Project	
  Deliverable	
  no.	
  3),	
  will	
  aid	
  language	
  teachers	
  with	
  the	
  creation	
  of	
  their	
  own	
  activities.	
  	
  


6.5 Social	
  Network	
  and	
  Community	
  Building	
  
The	
   maintenance	
   and	
   development	
   of	
   the	
   platform	
   and	
   tools,	
   their	
   continuing	
   and	
   expanding	
  
use,	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  the	
  development	
  of	
  a	
  rich	
  repository	
  of	
  tasks	
  and	
  teaching	
  and	
  learning	
  materials	
  
cannot	
   be	
   sustained	
   without	
   a	
   dynamic	
   online	
   community	
   of	
   developers	
   and	
   users.	
   Such	
   a	
  
community	
   may	
   be	
   divided	
   in	
   three	
   distinct,	
   yet	
   interdependent	
                      -­‐                  	
   1)	
   a	
  
community	
   of	
   open	
   source	
   developers	
   (e.g.	
   similar	
   to	
   open	
   source	
   communities),	
   2)	
   a	
  
community	
   of	
   language	
   learners,	
   and	
   3)	
   a	
   community	
   of	
   language	
   teachers.	
   There	
   are	
   many	
  
models	
   for	
   building	
   and	
   sustaining	
   online	
   communities,	
   and	
   there	
   may	
   not	
   be	
   a	
   fit	
   for	
   all	
  
solution.	
   Different	
   models	
   and	
   community	
   orientations	
   that	
   are	
   particularly	
   relevant	
   to	
  
SpeakApps	
  are	
  being	
  examined	
  by	
  the	
  consortium,	
  such	
  as	
  open-­‐ended	
  conversations,	
  content,	
  
project,	
  and	
  access	
  to	
  expertise	
  orientations.	
  
The	
   SpeakApps	
   platform	
   provides	
   a	
   social	
   network	
   element	
   to	
   facilitate	
   informal	
   learning	
  
opportunities.	
   Through	
   the	
   development	
   of	
   this	
   feature	
   of	
   the	
   platform,	
   the	
   projects	
   aims	
   to	
  
create	
  and	
  sustain	
  a	
  community	
  of	
  language	
  teachers.	
  	
  


6.6 Technological	
  Solution	
  
The	
   SpeakApps	
   platform	
   is	
   built	
   leveraging	
   the	
   advantages	
   of	
   open	
   source	
   technologies.	
   The	
  
principles	
  of	
  open	
  source	
  will	
  therefore	
  support	
  the	
  continued	
  refinement	
  of	
  the	
  tools	
  and	
  the	
  
platform	
  as	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  development	
  team	
  are	
  actively	
  engaged	
  in	
  developer	
  communities.	
  
The	
  use	
  of	
  the	
  IMS	
   Learning	
   Tools	
  Interoperability	
  specifications	
   provides	
   for	
   the	
   integration	
  of	
  
these	
  tools	
  with	
  other	
  LMS	
  and	
  CMS	
  and	
  therefore	
  ensures	
  that	
  the	
  tools	
  can	
  be	
  used	
  and	
  re-­‐
used	
  across	
  an	
  array	
  of	
  platforms	
  which	
  adhere	
  to	
  this	
  specification.	
  	
  


6.7 Dissemination	
  	
  
SpeakApps	
  has	
  developed	
  a	
  comprehensive	
  dissemination	
   strategy	
  and	
  this	
  strategy	
  underpins	
  
and	
   augments	
   the	
   exploitation	
   and	
   the	
   of	
   the	
   application	
   amongst	
   the	
   projects	
   target	
   users	
  
through	
  a	
  targeted	
  approach	
  examples	
  of	
  these	
  initiatives	
  to	
  date	
  include	
  seminars	
  with	
  target	
  
language	
  teachers,	
  the	
  presentation	
  of	
  SpeakApps	
  at	
  academic	
  and	
  practice	
  conferences	
  and	
  the	
  
development	
  of	
  a	
  comprehensive	
  project	
  website.	
  	
  


7                                   	
  
The	
   SpeakApps	
   sustainability	
   plan	
   is	
   centred	
   on	
   four	
   main	
   elements;	
   tools	
   and	
   platform,	
  
pedagogical	
   development	
   and	
   support,	
   community	
   building	
   and	
   stewarding,	
   and	
   business	
  
model.	
   The	
   development	
   of	
   each	
   element	
   is	
   guided	
   by	
   the	
   underpinning	
   principal	
   of	
  
sustainability.	
   The	
   project	
   is	
   designed	
   to	
   ensure	
   that	
   language	
   teachers	
   can	
   interact	
   over	
   a	
  
reasonable	
  period	
  of	
  time	
  with	
  the	
  SpeakApps	
  environment	
  in	
  a	
  number	
  of	
  ways	
  including:	
  




                                                                                                                                                      13	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  
           Contributing	
  to	
  and	
  downloading	
  pedagogical	
  materials	
  in	
  the	
                        	
  target	
  languages	
  
           Downloading	
  the	
  tools	
  for	
  use	
  within	
  their	
  own	
  LMS	
  learning	
  context	
  
           Collaborating	
   with	
   other	
   language	
   teachers	
   in	
   the	
   development	
   and	
   design	
   of	
  
           pedagogical	
   activities	
   to	
   support	
   language	
   learning	
   with	
   a	
   particular	
   focus	
   on	
   spoken	
  
           skills	
  
           Accessing	
   an	
   e-­‐learning	
   environment	
   with	
   LMS	
   features	
   to	
   facilitate	
   both	
  synchronous	
  
           and	
  asynchronous	
  oral	
  language	
  production	
  	
  
The	
  progression	
  of	
  the	
  project	
  and	
  the	
  realisation	
  of	
  the	
  projects	
  work	
  packages	
  will	
  continue	
  to	
  
refine	
   and	
   evolve	
   the	
   business	
   model	
   and	
   exploitation	
   deliverable.	
   The	
   challenge	
   for	
   the	
  
SpeakApps	
  project	
  team	
  is	
  to	
  ensure	
  that	
  the	
  principle	
  of	
  sustainability	
  remains	
  at	
  the	
  core	
  of	
  its	
  
mission.	
  	
  




                                                                                                                                                  14	
  
Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps	
  
This work by SpeakApps is licensed
under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-
ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

	
  


8                                       	
  
Britain,	
  S.	
  (2011).	
  On	
  the	
  Relationship	
  Between	
  Pedagogical	
  Design	
  and	
  Content	
  Management	
  in	
  
eLearning.	
  In	
  N.	
  Ferrer	
  &	
  J.-­‐M.	
  Alfonso	
  (eds.),	
  Content	
  Management	
  for	
  E-­‐Learning	
  (pp.	
  55-­‐69).	
  
New	
  York,	
  NY:	
  Springer.	
  	
  
Conole,	
   G.,	
   Oliver,	
   M.,	
   Falconer,	
   I.,	
   Littlejohn,	
   A.,	
   &	
   Harvey,	
   J.	
   (2007).	
   Designing	
   for	
   learning.	
   In	
   G.	
  
Conole	
  &	
  M.	
  Oliver	
  (ed.),	
  Contemporary	
  perspectives	
  in	
  e-­‐learning	
  research:	
  Themes,	
  methods	
  and	
  
impact	
  on	
  practice,	
  (pp.	
  101-­‐120).	
  Routledge	
  Falmer.	
  	
  
Conole,	
  G.	
  (forthcoming).	
  Designing	
  for	
  learning	
  in	
  an	
  open	
  world.	
  Springer.	
  
Fischmann,	
   J.	
   (2011).	
   Pearson	
   and	
   Google	
   Jump	
   intp	
   Learning	
   Management,	
   with	
   a	
   New	
   Free	
  
System,	
  The	
  Chronicle	
  of	
  Higher	
  Education,	
  October	
  13th	
  2011,	
  [accessed	
  on-­‐line	
  17th	
  October	
  
2011].	
  
Kopper,	
   R.	
   &	
   Tatterstall,	
   C.	
   (2005).	
   Learning	
   Design	
   	
   A	
   handbook	
   on	
   modelling	
   and	
   delivering	
  
networked	
  education	
  and	
  training.	
  Springer.	
  
Moodle	
   (2011).	
   Moodle	
   Statistics,	
   [Retrieved	
   from	
   http://moodle.org/stats][Accessed	
   on-­‐line	
  
16th	
  December	
  2011],	
  	
  
Rogers,	
  E.	
  M.	
  (2003).	
  Diffusion	
  of	
  innovations	
  (5th	
  Ed.).	
  New	
  York,	
  NY:	
  Free	
  Press.	
  
Wiley,	
   D.	
   (2007).	
   On	
   the	
   sustainability	
   of	
   open	
   educational	
   resource	
   initiatives	
   in	
   higher	
  
education.	
  OECD.	
  
	
  	
  




                                                                                                                                                                      15	
  
SpeakApps Project

Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps

This project has been funded with support from the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commis -
sion.

This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

More Related Content

Similar to Towards a sustainable business and exploitation plan. Interim Report

OER Rapid Innovation
OER Rapid InnovationOER Rapid Innovation
OER Rapid InnovationJisc
 
MSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPad
MSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPadMSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPad
MSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPadTraitet Thepbandansuk
 
LoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary services
LoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary servicesLoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary services
LoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary serviceslocloud
 
Formato En Ingles Tecnologos 9d
Formato En Ingles Tecnologos 9dFormato En Ingles Tecnologos 9d
Formato En Ingles Tecnologos 9dIE Simona Duque
 
01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPad
01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPad01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPad
01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPadTraitet Thepbandansuk
 
Beyond Powerpoint
Beyond PowerpointBeyond Powerpoint
Beyond Powerpointguestf8ceb5
 
E learning guide
E learning guideE learning guide
E learning guideChandara Om
 
English Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdf
English Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdfEnglish Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdf
English Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdfDigital Teacher
 
iPad as a pedagogical device
iPad as a pedagogical deviceiPad as a pedagogical device
iPad as a pedagogical deviceFrode Kyrkjebø
 
Proposal e learning
Proposal e learningProposal e learning
Proposal e learningsablahhh
 
March 2009
March 2009March 2009
March 2009linioti
 
ClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical Methodology
ClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical MethodologyClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical Methodology
ClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical MethodologyClipFlair
 
Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310
Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310
Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310Colleen Hodgins
 
2008 Comparing Auth Tools F Vervenne
2008 Comparing Auth Tools F Vervenne2008 Comparing Auth Tools F Vervenne
2008 Comparing Auth Tools F VervenneFilip Vervenne
 
Learning Management Systems (Lms) A Review
Learning Management Systems (Lms) A ReviewLearning Management Systems (Lms) A Review
Learning Management Systems (Lms) A ReviewHidayathulla NS
 
Low-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdf
Low-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdfLow-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdf
Low-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdfAshutosh Kalbande
 
Udl technology tools for support webinar
Udl technology tools for support webinarUdl technology tools for support webinar
Udl technology tools for support webinarKaren Brooks
 

Similar to Towards a sustainable business and exploitation plan. Interim Report (20)

OER Rapid Innovation
OER Rapid InnovationOER Rapid Innovation
OER Rapid Innovation
 
MSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPad
MSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPadMSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPad
MSc Dissertation: Restaurant e-menu software on iPad
 
LoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary services
LoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary servicesLoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary services
LoCloud - D3.4: Vocabulary services
 
Formato En Ingles Tecnologos 9d
Formato En Ingles Tecnologos 9dFormato En Ingles Tecnologos 9d
Formato En Ingles Tecnologos 9d
 
01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPad
01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPad01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPad
01 dissertation_Restaurant e-menu on iPad
 
Beyond Powerpoint
Beyond PowerpointBeyond Powerpoint
Beyond Powerpoint
 
Software engineering marsic
Software engineering   marsicSoftware engineering   marsic
Software engineering marsic
 
E learning guide
E learning guideE learning guide
E learning guide
 
PMC8
PMC8PMC8
PMC8
 
English Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdf
English Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdfEnglish Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdf
English Language Lab Digital Teacher.pdf
 
iPad as a pedagogical device
iPad as a pedagogical deviceiPad as a pedagogical device
iPad as a pedagogical device
 
Proposal e learning
Proposal e learningProposal e learning
Proposal e learning
 
March 2009
March 2009March 2009
March 2009
 
ClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical Methodology
ClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical MethodologyClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical Methodology
ClipFlair Conceptual Framework and Pedagogical Methodology
 
Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310
Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310
Tqr project palm informationsession_ve-mentoring250310
 
2008 Comparing Auth Tools F Vervenne
2008 Comparing Auth Tools F Vervenne2008 Comparing Auth Tools F Vervenne
2008 Comparing Auth Tools F Vervenne
 
Learning Management Systems (Lms) A Review
Learning Management Systems (Lms) A ReviewLearning Management Systems (Lms) A Review
Learning Management Systems (Lms) A Review
 
Low-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdf
Low-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdfLow-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdf
Low-Code App Development for Personalized Learning Experiences.pdf
 
Innovative assessment
Innovative assessmentInnovative assessment
Innovative assessment
 
Udl technology tools for support webinar
Udl technology tools for support webinarUdl technology tools for support webinar
Udl technology tools for support webinar
 

More from SpeakApps Project

SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...
SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...
SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...SpeakApps Project
 
SpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico Europeo
SpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico EuropeoSpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico Europeo
SpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico EuropeoSpeakApps Project
 
Tareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en línea
Tareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en líneaTareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en línea
Tareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en líneaSpeakApps Project
 
SpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills online
SpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills onlineSpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills online
SpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills onlineSpeakApps Project
 
Mündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen Fremdsprachenunterricht
Mündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen FremdsprachenunterrichtMündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen Fremdsprachenunterricht
Mündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen FremdsprachenunterrichtSpeakApps Project
 
A.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownika
A.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownikaA.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownika
A.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownikaSpeakApps Project
 
Krakow presentation speak_appsmngm_final
Krakow presentation speak_appsmngm_finalKrakow presentation speak_appsmngm_final
Krakow presentation speak_appsmngm_finalSpeakApps Project
 
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking Practice
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking PracticeEurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking Practice
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking PracticeSpeakApps Project
 
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning Analytics
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning AnalyticsEurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning Analytics
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning AnalyticsSpeakApps Project
 
Eurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFR
Eurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFREurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFR
Eurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFRSpeakApps Project
 
Eurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakApps
Eurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakAppsEurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakApps
Eurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakAppsSpeakApps Project
 
Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014
Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014
Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014SpeakApps Project
 
SpeakApps Workshop und Onlinetraining
SpeakApps Workshop und OnlinetrainingSpeakApps Workshop und Onlinetraining
SpeakApps Workshop und OnlinetrainingSpeakApps Project
 
SpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production Online
SpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production OnlineSpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production Online
SpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production OnlineSpeakApps Project
 
SpeakApps - End of project Leaflet
SpeakApps - End of project LeafletSpeakApps - End of project Leaflet
SpeakApps - End of project LeafletSpeakApps Project
 
SpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUG
SpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUGSpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUG
SpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUGSpeakApps Project
 
Teachers Voices outline - Irish
Teachers Voices outline - IrishTeachers Voices outline - Irish
Teachers Voices outline - IrishSpeakApps Project
 
SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)
SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)
SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)SpeakApps Project
 

More from SpeakApps Project (20)

SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...
SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...
SpeakApps: Open Educational Resources for online speaking practice in a forei...
 
SpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico Europeo
SpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico EuropeoSpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico Europeo
SpeakApps Workshop Liceo Linguistico Europeo
 
Tareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en línea
Tareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en líneaTareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en línea
Tareas comunicativas para la práctica de la expresión oral en línea
 
SpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills online
SpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills onlineSpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills online
SpeakApps: resources and applications for developing oral skills online
 
Mündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen Fremdsprachenunterricht
Mündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen FremdsprachenunterrichtMündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen Fremdsprachenunterricht
Mündliche Produktion und Interaktion im virtuellen Fremdsprachenunterricht
 
A.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownika
A.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownikaA.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownika
A.prizel kania uj-w poszukiwaniu wspólnego mianownika
 
Krakow presentation speak_appsmngm_final
Krakow presentation speak_appsmngm_finalKrakow presentation speak_appsmngm_final
Krakow presentation speak_appsmngm_final
 
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking Practice
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking PracticeEurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking Practice
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - Speaking Practice
 
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning Analytics
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning AnalyticsEurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning Analytics
Eurocall2014 SpeakApps Presentation - SpeakApps and Learning Analytics
 
Eurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFR
Eurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFREurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFR
Eurocall SpeakApps Presentation - Open Educational Resources and the CEFR
 
Eurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakApps
Eurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakAppsEurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakApps
Eurocall Course Design Presentation - SpeakApps
 
Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014
Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014
Speak apps workshop_eurocall2014
 
SpeakApps Workshop und Onlinetraining
SpeakApps Workshop und OnlinetrainingSpeakApps Workshop und Onlinetraining
SpeakApps Workshop und Onlinetraining
 
SpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production Online
SpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production OnlineSpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production Online
SpeakApps CEFR Tasks for Oral Production Online
 
Apac 2014 speak_apps
Apac 2014 speak_appsApac 2014 speak_apps
Apac 2014 speak_apps
 
SpeakApps - End of project Leaflet
SpeakApps - End of project LeafletSpeakApps - End of project Leaflet
SpeakApps - End of project Leaflet
 
SpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUG
SpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUGSpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUG
SpeakApps celebration of the EDL'12 at RUG
 
Teachers Voices outline - Irish
Teachers Voices outline - IrishTeachers Voices outline - Irish
Teachers Voices outline - Irish
 
SpeakApps NUT
SpeakApps NUT SpeakApps NUT
SpeakApps NUT
 
SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)
SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)
SpeakApps presentation (Finnish)
 

Recently uploaded

2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...
2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...
2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...Marlene Maheu
 
DLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYS
DLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYSDLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYS
DLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYSTeacherNicaPrintable
 
PHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdf
PHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdfPHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdf
PHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdfSumit Tiwari
 
Dhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian Poetics
Dhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian PoeticsDhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian Poetics
Dhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian PoeticsDhatriParmar
 
The First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdf
The First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdfThe First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdf
The First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdfdogden2
 
Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...
Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...
Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...gdgsurrey
 
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...Nguyen Thanh Tu Collection
 
BBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptx
BBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptxBBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptx
BBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptxProf. Kanchan Kumari
 
VIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdf
VIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdfVIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdf
VIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdfArthyR3
 
AI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace Applications
AI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace ApplicationsAI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace Applications
AI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace ApplicationsStella Lee
 
Auchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian Poetics
Auchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian PoeticsAuchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian Poetics
Auchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian PoeticsDhatriParmar
 
The basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptxThe basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptxheathfieldcps1
 
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...Nguyen Thanh Tu Collection
 
Riti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptx
Riti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptxRiti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptx
Riti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptxDhatriParmar
 
Metabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptx
Metabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptxMetabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptx
Metabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptxDr. Santhosh Kumar. N
 
LEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced Stud
LEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced StudLEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced Stud
LEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced StudDr. Bruce A. Johnson
 
Research Methodology and Tips on Better Research
Research Methodology and Tips on Better ResearchResearch Methodology and Tips on Better Research
Research Methodology and Tips on Better ResearchRushdi Shams
 
Metabolism of lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptx
Metabolism of  lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptxMetabolism of  lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptx
Metabolism of lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptxDr. Santhosh Kumar. N
 

Recently uploaded (20)

2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...
2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...
2024 March 11, Telehealth Billing- Current Telehealth CPT Codes & Telehealth ...
 
DLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYS
DLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYSDLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYS
DLL Catch Up Friday March 22.docx CATCH UP FRIDAYS
 
PHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdf
PHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdfPHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdf
PHARMACOGNOSY CHAPTER NO 5 CARMINATIVES AND G.pdf
 
Dhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian Poetics
Dhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian PoeticsDhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian Poetics
Dhavni Theory by Anandvardhana Indian Poetics
 
ANOVA Parametric test: Biostatics and Research Methodology
ANOVA Parametric test: Biostatics and Research MethodologyANOVA Parametric test: Biostatics and Research Methodology
ANOVA Parametric test: Biostatics and Research Methodology
 
The First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdf
The First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdfThe First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdf
The First National K12 TUG March 6 2024.pdf
 
Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...
Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...
Certification Study Group - Professional ML Engineer Session 3 (Machine Learn...
 
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (FRIE...
 
BBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptx
BBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptxBBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptx
BBA 205 BE UNIT 2 economic systems prof dr kanchan.pptx
 
VIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdf
VIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdfVIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdf
VIT336 – Recommender System - Unit 3.pdf
 
AI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace Applications
AI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace ApplicationsAI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace Applications
AI Uses and Misuses: Academic and Workplace Applications
 
Auchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian Poetics
Auchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian PoeticsAuchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian Poetics
Auchitya Theory by Kshemendra Indian Poetics
 
Problems on Mean,Mode,Median Standard Deviation
Problems on Mean,Mode,Median Standard DeviationProblems on Mean,Mode,Median Standard Deviation
Problems on Mean,Mode,Median Standard Deviation
 
The basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptxThe basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptx
The basics of sentences session 8pptx.pptx
 
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...
BÀI TẬP BỔ TRỢ TIẾNG ANH 11 THEO ĐƠN VỊ BÀI HỌC - CẢ NĂM - CÓ FILE NGHE (GLOB...
 
Riti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptx
Riti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptxRiti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptx
Riti theory by Vamana Indian poetics.pptx
 
Metabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptx
Metabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptxMetabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptx
Metabolism , Metabolic Fate& disorders of cholesterol.pptx
 
LEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced Stud
LEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced StudLEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced Stud
LEAD6001 - Introduction to Advanced Stud
 
Research Methodology and Tips on Better Research
Research Methodology and Tips on Better ResearchResearch Methodology and Tips on Better Research
Research Methodology and Tips on Better Research
 
Metabolism of lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptx
Metabolism of  lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptxMetabolism of  lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptx
Metabolism of lipoproteins & its disorders(Chylomicron & VLDL & LDL).pptx
 

Towards a sustainable business and exploitation plan. Interim Report

  • 1. Towards  a  sustainable   business  and  exploitation   plan   Interim  Report     Project  Deliverables  no.  12/13   December  2011      
  • 2. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   Executive  Summary     SpeakApps   is   a   free   and   open   source   online   platform,   aimed   at   language   teachers,   language   schools  and  educational  institutions,  providing  them  with:     Easy   access   to   innovative   and   interactive   online   tools   for   learning   and   teaching   languages     Activities   and   tools   for   managing   materials   for   synchronous   and   asynchronous   oral   tasks     Technical  and  pedagogical  guides  to  assist  SpeakApps  users     A   facility   to   create   a   dedicated   e-­‐learning   environment   by   using   virtual   classrooms   to   carry  out  pedagogical  activities   A  common  digital  space  to  develop  and  exchange  oral  language  learning  materials  and   to  develop  new  software  within  the  SpeakApps  environment     SpeakApps   leverages   technology   to   ensure   that   language   learners   have   a   dedicated   space   to   engage   with   oral   language   activities.   The   platform   supports   active,   engaged   and   reflective   learning   by   facilitating   feedback   and   performance   evaluation,   a   recognised   challenge   for   the   online  language  teaching  and  learning  community.  Language  activities  have  been  developed  in   six  European  languages;  Catalan,  Irish,  Dutch,  Swedish,  Polish  and  English.         1  
  • 3. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   Table  of  Contents   1   Introduction  .............................................................................................................................................................  3   2   Designing  for  sustainability  ...............................................................................................................................  4   3   Technical  Solution  and  Architecture  ..............................................................................................................  5   3.1   LANGBlog   ..........................................................................................................................................................  5   3.2   Videoconferencing  tool  ...............................................................................................................................  6   3.3   Tandem  tool.....................................................................................................................................................  7   3.4   SpeakApps  Portal  ..........................................................................................................................................  8   3.5   SpeakApps  Platform  and  Cloud  Computing  .......................................................................................  8   4   Market  Scan  and  Competitors   ...........................................................................................................................  9   4.1   Synchronous  Communication  ..................................................................................................................  9   4.1.1   Skype  .........................................................................................................................................................  9   4.1.2   Google  Applications  ............................................................................................................................  9   4.1.3   Adobe  Connect  ......................................................................................................................................  9   4.1.4   WebEx  Training  Centre  ..................................................................................................................  10   4.2   Asynchronous  Communication  ............................................................................................................  10   4.2.1   SoundCloud  .........................................................................................................................................  10   4.2.2   You  Tube  ..............................................................................................................................................  10   4.3   Platform   ..........................................................................................................................................................  10   5   Business  Model  ....................................................................................................................................................  11   6   SpeakApps  Deliverables  &  Sustainability  .................................................................................................  12   6.1   User  Requirements  ....................................................................................................................................  12   6.2   Pilot  Studies  ..................................................................................................................................................  12   6.3   Teacher  Training  ........................................................................................................................................  12   6.4   Pedagogical  Design  ....................................................................................................................................  12   6.5   Social  Network  and  Community  Building  ........................................................................................  13   6.6   Technological  Solution  .............................................................................................................................  13   6.7   Dissemination  ..............................................................................................................................................  13   7   Conclusion  ..............................................................................................................................................................  13   8   References  ..............................................................................................................................................................  15         2  
  • 4. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   1   The  aim  of  this  document  is  to  outline  the  integrated  approach  adopted  by  SpeakApps  project   partners  to  the  development  of  SpeakApps  business  and  exploitation  plan.  The  rationale  for  this   approach  is  based  on  a  belief  that  both  the  business  model  and  exploitation  plans  should  centre   on  the  concept  of  sustainability.  Indeed,  the  centrality  and  importance  of  sustainability  should   not   be   overlooked   in   the   context   of   the   rapidly   evolving   technological   environment.   The   SpeakApps   Development   Team   has   already   advanced   the   use   of   the   SpeakApps   tools   and   platform   within   targeted   communities   of   language   learners   through   the   initial   stages   of   the   project   via   the   SpeakApps   user   requirements   survey,   SpeakApps   pilots,   and   various   dissemination  activities.     This  document  incorporates  an  examination  of  some  of  the  key  sustainability  issues  that  were   outlined  in   the   sustainability   roadmap   developed   by   the   SpeakApps   partners1   and  illustrated   in   Figure  1  below:   Figure  1  -­‐  Sustainability  concepts  and  principles                                                                                                                                 1  See  Sustainability  Plan  (WP5)    Roadmap,  September  2011   3  
  • 5. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   The   future   exploitation   of   the   SpeakApps   environment   is   thus   approached   from   both   pedagogical   and  technological   perspectives.   Following  a   brief   discussion  of  sustainability  issues   relating   to   design   and   pedagogical   activities,   this   interim   report   gives   an   overview   of   the   technologies  powering  the  tools,  portal  and  platform  of  the   SpeakApps  project  and  considers  it   main  competitors.  It  then  outlines  the  business  model  and  principles  adopted  by  the  SpeakApps   partners.   Finally,   it   considers   other   SpeakApps   deliverables   and   their   relationship   with   the   overall  sustainability  plan.   2   Rogers  (2003:  183)  defines  the  concept  of  sustainability  as   e  degree  to  which  an  innovation   continues   to   be   used   over   time   after   a   diffusion   program     Drawing   on   this   definition,   sustainability   can   be   defined   as   a     ability   to   meet   its   goals   both   in  short-­‐term   and   long-­‐ term.  Designing  for  sustainability  is  designing  for  change  because  of  the  contemporary  nature  of   pedagogical   and   technological   trends   and   needs.   In   this   sense,   the   sustainability   and   business   strategy   acknowledge   the   dynamic   change   processes   in   relation   to   the   development   of   the   SpeakApps   tools   and   platform.   From   the   technology   perspective   this   means   that   interoperability  of  the  tools  and  various  Virtual  Learning  Environments  (VLEs)  must  be  taken   into   account.   This   has   been   achieved   through   the   implementation   of   the   IMS   Learning   Tools   Interoperability  specification  (see  section  3  below).   There   is   however  a   strong   relationship   between   pedagogical   design   and   content   management   across   different   e-­‐learning   environments   (Britain,   2011).   The   SpeakApps   pedagogical   plan   is   formulated   on   the   premise   of   facilitating   and   supporting   oral   language   production   and   acquisition  of  language  learners.  The  model  is  based  on  the  creation,  maintenance  and  growth   of   communities   of   users   in   each   target   language   and   the   provision   and   development   of   open   content.  Wiley  (2007:  5)  defines  sustainability  in  terms  of  Open  Educational  Resources  (OER)  as   two-­‐fold:   Sustainability  of  the  production  and  sharing  of  resources  (pedagogical  activities)   Sustainability  of  the  use  and  reuse  of  the  resources  by  end  users  (whether  teachers  or   learners)   The  project  provides  pedagogical   support  to  language  teachers  to  position  the   SpeakApps  tools   in   line   with   their   own   pedagogical   coordinates,   through   the   provision   of   pedagogical   guides.   These   guides   will   support   language   teachers   to   consider   these   tools   as   a   part   of   a   learning   design,   to   choose   the   best   tools   for   a   particular   purpose,   and   to   build   activity   spans   that   tie   together  different  tools  and  activities  supporting  the  learning  objectives.  Pedagogical  activities   available  in  the  SpeakApps  platforms  are  being  developed  cognisant  of  the  Common  European   Reference   Framework   for   Languages   (CEFR).   This   is   an   important   feature   of   the   pedagogical   component  of  the  SpeakApps  project  as  it  ensures  that  the  proposed  language  learning  tasks  are   benchmarked  to  this  standard.     Research   on   designing   for   learning   has   produced   a   rich   account   of   the   various   ways   of   documenting  and  sharing  educational  practices  (see  for  example  Conole  et  al.  2007).  During  and   after  the  project,  different  kinds  of  materials  are/will  be  produced,  and  these  materials  can  be   considered   as   learning   objects.   To   ensure   sustainability,   the   learning   objects   need   to   be   reusable.   Guides   to   the   development   of   activities   by   the   SpeakApps   language   learning   community   will   be   provided   on   the   platform   to   foster   and   to   nurture   a   vibrant   community   of   practice.   In   particular,   the   social   feature   of   the   portal   will   act   as   an   interactive   and   reflective   resource   for   activity   developers   and   users,   and   it   will   support   their   interaction   with   other   language  teachers.  Activity  guides  will  also  provide  clear  pedagogical  instruction  and  advice  to   4  
  • 6. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   activity   developers.   These   pedagogical   guides   and   templates   are   validated   by   the   members   of   the  project  during  the  pilot  studies,  and  their  theoretical  underpinnings  are  made  explicit.     One   of   the   problems   in   current   teaching   material   repositories   is   that   the   amount   of   material   tends   to   grow   fast   and   soon   becomes   inaccessible   if   no   clear   organizational   structure   is   presented.   The   design   of   the   platform   is   cognisant   of   these   issues.   More   specifically,   and   following   Conole   (forthcoming),   we   believe   that   a   shared   language   to   describe   learning   activities   is   needed.   Through   the   design   and   piloting   of   templates,   the   project   is   developing   a   method   and   associated   metadata   to   describe   learning   tasks.   The   completion   of   pilot   studies   across   the   SpeakApps   language   set   ensures   a   dynamic   and   iterative   approach   to   the   development   of   this   shared   language,   while   remaining   cognisant   of   Learning   Design   specifications  and  developments  (see  for  example  Koper  &  Tattersall,  2005).   The   effectiveness   of   the   project   depends   on   both     and     interest   to   acknowledge   the  SpeakApps   tools   as   relevant   tools   for   learning,   and   to   be  able   to   set   them  in   line  with  the  learning   objectives.  To  promote  the  use   of  the  tools,  the  project  aims  to   overcome   the   most   common   obstacles   in   using   learning   technologies,   e.g.   lack   of   resources   and   lack   of   support.  This  can  be  addressed  through  the  development  of  a  repository  of  tasks,  the  support   and   provision  of   an   online   community  space,  and  the   availability  of   technical   and   pedagogical   guides  to  users.     3   Consideration   of   sustainability   has   guided   the   selection   and   use   of   open   source   technologies   underpinning   the   SpeakApps   tools   and   platform.   As   mentioned   earlier,   the   project   is   implementing   an   international   specification   model,   IMS   Learning   Tools   Interoperability,   to   support   the   interoperability   of   the   tools   with   other   Learning   Management   Systems   (LMS)   or   Content  Management  Systems.   SpeakApps  technical  solution  incorporates  three  main  elements:   1. A  place  to  find  information,  guides  and  demos  of  the  SpeakApps  tools.   Tasks  developed   for  these  tools  will  also  be  available  to  the  wider  community.   2. A   place   to   download   tools   and   material   for   oral   skill   practice   and   to   participate   in   a   social  network.   3. A  place  to  set  up  an  e-­‐learning  environment  if  you  would  like  to  use  the  SpeakApps  tools   but  do  not  have  an  LMS  to  integrate  them  into.   The  SpeakApps  platform  is  based  on  a  cloud  computing  infrastructure.  The  platform  will  host   the   SpeakApps   tools,   provide   the   capacity   to   develop   a   dedicated   e-­‐learning   environment   for   individual  users  and   support  a   social  space   to  exchange   and   develop   pedagogical  materials.  The   SpeakApps  tools  include  an  audio  blog,  a  video  conferencing  and  tandem  tool.  The  SpeakApps   portal   is   based   on   Moodle2   and   Mahara3   technology.   To   support   the   development   of   an   individual   e-­‐learning   environment,   the   SpeakApps   platform   draws   on   the   Amazon   EC24   web   service  to  provide  a  customisable  cloud  computing  solution.  The  following  sections  provide  an   overview  of  the  SpeakApps  tools,  portal  and  platform.   3.1 LANGBlog                                                                                                                             2  Moodle:  http://moodle.org/   3  Mahara:  http://mahara.org/   4  Amazon  Elastic  Cloud  Compute:  http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/   5  
  • 7. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   LANGBlog   is   an   audioblog   facilitating   the   practicing   of   oral   skills   of   a   user.   LANGBlog   functionalities  support  audio,  video  and  textual  posting.  LANGBlog  is  adopted  from  WordPress     the   most   common   blog   technology   used   on   the   Internet.   Wordpress5   is   an   open   source   web   application   underpinned   by   PHP   and   MySQL.   The   WordPress   architecture   allows   for   the   expansion  of  the  functionality  through  the  addition  of  plug-­‐ins.  LANGBlog  has  been  developed  in   this  way  to  support  video  and  audio  functionalities  and  to  facilitate  the  integration  of  LANGBlog   into  portals  and  other  platforms.     Figure  2.  LANGBlog     3.2 Videoconferencing  tool   This  tool  supports  a  video  conference  of  up  to  six  participants  using  audio   or  video.  The  tool   is   an  open  source  tool  and  chat  application,  underpinned  by  the  following  technologies:  Java,  Flash   and  Red5.  The  functionalities  of  the  tool  include  that  each  participant  can  initiate  a  conference   thus  supporting   both  supervised   and   independent   synchronous   communication   sessions.   Other   functionalities  associated  with  this  tool  include  the  recording  and  archiving  of  conferences.  An   important   feature   of   the   tool   is   its   usability   i.e.   the   tool   is   designed   based   on   the   principle   of   simplicity   and   to   ensure  that   participants   are   engaged   with   learning   as   opposed   to  mastering   the  functionality  of  the   tool   or  its  underlying  technology.   At   present,   the   tool   incorporates   these   two  main  features:   1.  Videoconferencing  and  recording  tool:   Up  to  six  participants   Integrated  recording  and  archiving   Written  chat     Mute  mike  option   Tandem  tool  integration                                                                                                                             5  Wordpress:  http://wordpress.com/   6  
  • 8. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.    2.  Player     Archived  file  player   Search  facility   Separate  channels  for  each  participant     Download  feature  for  participants     Figure  3  -­‐  Videoconferencing     3.3 Tandem  tool   The  Tandem  tool  is  designed  to  support  students  to  work  on  a  task  together  in  a  synchronous   medium.   The   tool   is   powered   by   PHP   and   uses   the   Moodle   classroom   or   a   Mahara   group   to   connect  two  students  to  complete  their  language  learning  task.  Students  can  be  given  differing   content  to  support  their  interaction  and  is  based  on  goal-­‐oriented  communication  activities.  The   tool   maintains   three   interfaces   for   students,   teachers   and   administrators   and   the   tool   is   independent   of   the   communication   technology   used.   The   tandem   tool   will   be   part   of   the   SpeakApps  platform.     7  
  • 9. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   Figure  4.  The  tandem  tool     3.4  SpeakApps  Portal     The  SpeakApps  portal  facilitates  both  formal  and  informal  learning  opportunities  and  is  based   on   Moodle   and   Mahara   Technologies.   Moodle   is   an   open   source   LMS,   which   allows   users   to   create  online  learning  environments.  At  present  there  are  over  seventy  two  thousand  registered   Moodle   sites   (Moodle,   2011)   with   over   five   million   courses.   Mahara   is   an   open   source   e-­‐ portfolio   system   with   social   networking   features.   Its   design   replicates   the   modular   principles   associated  with  Moodle  and  both  technologies  can   be  readily  integrated.  The  SpeakApps  portal   will  be  available  to  users  through  a  cloud  computing  paradigm.   3.5 SpeakApps  Platform  and  Cloud  Computing     The  SpeakApps   platform  is   based   in   the   cloud.   Users   who   have   decided   to   avail   of   the   complete   SpeakApps  technical  solution  will  access   this   environment   through  the   Internet.   Amazon   Elastic   Cloud  Compute  (Amazon  EC2)  will  host  the  e-­‐learning  environment.  This  service  provides  true   flexibility   by   facilitating   the   required   increase   or   decrease   in   computing   capacity;   it   also   provides  a  number  of  security  mechanisms  to  protect  users  and  resources.  An  additional  benefit   of  using  Amazon  EC2  is  the  pricing  structure6  and  the  rates  paid  for  computing  resources.  The   pricing   model   is   based   on   utility,   with   no   minimum   fee.   This   will   be   further   detailed   in   the   final   business  plan  (see  also  section  5).                                                                                                                             6  For  information  on  Amazon  EC2  Pricing,  see  http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/   8  
  • 10. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   4   SpeakApps   tools   and   applications   are   situated   in   a   dynamic   environment   with   blurred   boundaries.   Cloud   computing   and   the   paradigm   of   Software   as   a   Service ,   underpin   the   development   of   the   SpeakApps   tools   and   platform.   In   spite   of   the   move   to   a   cloud   computing   environment,  the  SpeakApps  project  is  cognisant  of  the  attractiveness  of  LMS  systems  such  as   Blackboard   and   Moodle   to   support   learning.   As   such,   SpeakApps   applications   are   designed   to   plug-­‐in  within  these  environments.     Both   the   SpeakApps   platform   and   applications   have   a   number   of   direct   and   indirect   competitors.   The   following   section   briefly   outlines   some   of   these   competitors   and   their   offerings   in   the   context   of   the   mode   of   communication   facilitated   by   the   SpeakApps   Applications.   Further   details   and   other   tools   and   technologies   in   this   space   can   be   found   in   State-­‐of-­‐the-­‐art   report   for   teachers:   a   review   of   tools   for   speaking,   Project   Deliverable   no.   3,   December  2011.   4.1 Synchronous  Communication     4.1.1 Skype   Skype  is  an  application  supporting  voice  and  video  calls  over  the  Internet,  by  using  Voice  Over   Internet  Protocol  (VOIP).  Skype  is  based  on  a  peer  to  peer  (P2P)  paradigm  i.e.  users  download   software   on   their   device   before   being   able   to   connect   using   Skype.   Entry   level   services   are   available  to  users  free  of  charge  and  include  both  voice  and  video  calls.  Subscription  charges  are   based  on  service  level,  based  on  a  utility  model  i.e.  pay  as  you  go.  Skype  is  available  on  a  wide   range   of   devices   including   Smart   phones   and   Digital   TVs.   Skype   was   acquired   by   Microsoft   in   2011.   4.1.2  Google  Applications   Google   offers   a   number   of   applications   supporting   synchronous   communication.   Google   Chat/Talk  and  Google  Hangout  are  two  examples   of  these  applications  which  are  available  free   of  charge  and  which  are  integrated  within  Google's  wider  cloud  platform  accessed  via  Google's   email   application,   Gmail.   Google   Chat   is   a   plug-­‐in   that   facilitates   both   video   and   audio   communication  via  Gmail  with  other  Gmail  users.  Google  Talk  supports  textual  communication   through   instant   messaging,   file   transfer   and   audio   conferencing   (multiple   users).   Google   Hangouts  provide  a  video  and  audio  working  or  social  space  for  up  to  nine  users  browsing  the   web,  who  are  invited   into  that  space,  thus  providing  an  area  for  groups.  These  applications  are   available  to  users  free  of  charge  and  run  across  devices.     4.1.3  Adobe  Connect   Adobe   Connect7   is   a   commercial   platform   designed   to   support   virtual   communication.   The   platform   technologies   support   synchronous   communication   and   provide   advanced   features   such  as  the  recording  of  audio  and  video  interactions,  accessing  recording  must  be  completed   through  Adobe  Connect  i.e.  recordings  are  not  saved  to  local  environments.  Virtual  classrooms   can   be   established   in   Connect   supporting   group   work   and   conferencing   for   up   to   twenty   five   participants.   A   reduced   feature   version   of   Connect   is   also   available   for   mobile   devices.   Adobe                                                                                                                             7  Adobe  Connect:  http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html   9  
  • 11. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   Connect   offers   a   discounted   utility   and   membership   pricing   model   for   institutional   and   individual  consumers  for  both  public  and  private  educational  concerns.   4.1.4  WebEx  Training  Centre   WebEx   Training   Centre8   is   another   solution   for   the   corporate   and   educational   online   training   and  learning  markets  and  is  a  company  of  the  global  corporation  Cisco  Systems.  The  Training   Centre  is  based  on  WebEx  popular  online  meeting  platform  but  has  been  developed  to  provide   additional  functionality.  This  functionality  includes  features  similar  to  those  of  Adobe  Connect.   WebEx  Training  Centre  is  interoperable  with  LMS   and  support  for  interoperability  is  provided.   WebEx   Training   Centre   can   support   up   to   1000   participants.   WebEx   Meeting   Centre   is   a   reduced  feature  version  of  the  feature-­‐rich  WebEx  Training  Centre,  which  scales  from  8  to  500   participants   and   is   available   on   mobile   device.   Both   standard   and   upgraded   versions   of   the   software   are   available   and   the   pricing   structure   is   differentiated   on   functionality   and   usage   arrangements.     4.2  Asynchronous  Communication     4.2.1 SoundCloud   SoundCloud9  is  based  on  a  social  media  paradigm  and  encourages  users  to  register  and  upload   their   recordings.   Once   registered   the   user   uses   the   software   available   through   SoundCloud   to   record  their  sounds  or  download  an  application  to  their  mobile  phone  to  complete  and  upload  a   recording.   Similar   to   other   social   media   environments,   users   can   share   their   recordings;   feedback   can   be   given   from   others   listening   to   your   recording   by   using   the   time-­‐stamp   comment  feature.  A  user's  recordings  can  be  made  available  via  other  social  media  communities   such  as  Facebook.     4.2.2  You  Tube   You   Tube   allows   users   to   post   and   share   video   materials   online.   You   Tube   is   a   subscription   based  serviced  with  a  wide  breadth  of  functionality  based  on  subscription  type.  Users  have  the   option   of   creating   their   own   You   Tube   channel   to   author,   edit   and   manage   their   own   posted   videos.   Users   can   also   share   video   posting   both   publicly   or   through   restricted   invitation   only   access  for  up  to  twenty  five   other   users.   You  Tube  provides  an   annotation   feature,   which   allows   users  to  provide  textual  comment  to  video  materials.  You  Tube  video  can  be  embedded  in  other   platforms   and   can   be   accessed   and   integrated   with   email   platforms   such   as   GMail   and   social   media  networks  such  as  Facebook.  You    entry  level  service  is  free  of  charge  to  users.     4.3 Platform     The   SpeakApps   platform   can   be   considered   as   a   learning   management   system   or   virtual   learning   environment.  The   LMS  market   is   dynamic   and  consists   of   both  commercial   and  open   source   players.   Examples   of   commercial   companies   in   this   market   include   Blackboard   and   examples  of  open  source  companies  include  Moodle  and  Joomla10.  A  joint  venture  by  Google  and                                                                                                                             8  WebEx  Training  Centre:  http://www.webex.com/   9  SoundCloud:  http://soundcloud.com/   10  Joomla:  http://www.joomla.org/   10  
  • 12. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   Pearson,  indicate  the  continued  evolution  of  this  market  with  the  launch  of  OpenClass11  a  free   LMS     which   provides   course   management   tools   and   advanced   social   networking   and   community   building   capacities   (Fischmann,   2011).   This   project   however   is   currently   in   development  and  remains  unavailable  to  users.     5   The  close  integration  of  pedagogical  and  technological  design  is  evidence  of   the  distinctiveness   of   the   SpeakApps   tools   and   platform   in   relation   to   its   competitors   and   is   at   the   core   of   its   business   model.   The   latter   is   based   primarily   on   developing   a   community   of   users   by   providing   free   access   for   all   users   to   the   web   2.0   tools   and   associated   learning   materials   that   are   being   iteratively   developed   throughout   the   lifespan   of   the   project.   Since   they   are   based   on   the   IMS   Learning   Tools   Interoperability   specification,   the   SpeakAppss   tools   can   be   integrated   into   a   wide   range   of   existing   educational,   content   and   social   media   platforms   such   as   Moodle,   Blackboard,   and   Mahara.   Users   will   therefore   be   able   to   download   the   SpeakApps   tools   and   integrate  them  within  their  own  technological  contexts,  provided  that  they  have  the  resources   and  appropriate  technical  skills  or  support  to  do  so.  All  teaching  and  learning  materials  will  be   accessible   under   a   Creative   Commons   licence,   similar   to   the   one   applicable   to   this   document   (e.g.  BY,  NC,  SA).   For  those  who  do  not  have  access  to  the  necessary  resources  and  support,  it  is  envisaged  that   the   Universitat   Oberta   de   Catalunya   (UOC)   will   continue   to   maintain   the   SpeakApps   platform   and  tools  after  the  project  is  completed.  In  order  to  support  UOC  in  this  endeavour,  the  business   model   will   allow   for   the   provision   of   a   subscription   based   dedicated   e-­‐learning   environment   with  virtual  classrooms  for  users.  This  ancillary  service  is  based  on  the  concept  of   software  as  a   service ,   and   will   provide   a   range   of   LMS   functionalities   to   users.   The   service   will   be   offered   using  a  subscription  paradigm   in  line  with  Amazon  EC2  pricing  structure  (mentioned   earlier   in   section   3.5),   with   subscriptions   commensurate   with   usage   and   based   on   technical   costs   of   hosting   and   maintenance.   To   assist   in   the   setting   up   of   an   appropriate   price   plan,   all   project   partners  will  conduct  an  appraisal  of  user  statistics  and  interactions  with  the  platform  and  tools   by   the   end   of   the   project   life-­‐cycle   as   well   as   establish   the   potential   demand  for   the   services   for   each   language.   UOC   will   also   provide   detailed   technical   and   maintenance   costs   as   well   as   develop  scenarios  of  use  and  break   even   points   (e.g.   projected   number   of   students/teachers   for   the  next  two  years   and   associated  costs)   that  are   cognizant   of   potential   requirements  for   future   upgrades.   These   projections   and   financial  scenarios   will   form   the   basis  for   a   SpeakApps   price   plan  and  the  drawing  of  agreements  between  the  SpeakApps  Consortium  and  organisations  or   individual  teachers  interested  in  bringing  their  classes  to  the  SpeakApps  platform.   In   recognition   of   the   25%   share   of   the   total   project   budget   committed   by   the   partner   institutions  during  the  project  lifespan  and  of  the    contribution  to  the  development  and   piloting  of  tools  and  tasks,  UOC  will  provide  free  access  to  partner  institutions  for  at  least  a  year   after   completion   of   the   project.   The   other   partners   will   continue   to   provide   teaching   and   learning   materials   as   well   as   steward   the   community   of   users.   A   new   consortium   agreement,   based   on   the   initial   one,   will   be   drawn   with   a   view   to   establish   governance   principles   and   operations,  as  well  as  conditions  and  rules  for  the  distribution  or  re-­‐investment  of  profits  if  any.                                                                                                                               11  To  learn  more  about  OpenClass,  see:  http://www.joinopenclass.com/open/view/t1   11  
  • 13. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   6   This   section   considers   issues   of   sustainability   in   terms   of   other   SpeakApps   deliverables   and   how  these  deliverable  link  into  the  SpeakApps  business  model.     6.1 User  Requirements   The   SpeakApps   Development   Team   is   conducting   a   comprehensive   survey   of   user   requirements.   These   requirements   are   used   to   guide   both   technological   and   pedagogical   elements  of  the  project.  The  dissemination  of  the  user  survey  has  also  brought  the  SpeakApps   project  to  the  attention  to  a  wide-­‐range  of  users  in  each  of  the  target  languages  as  is  the  first  of  a   series  of  steps  to  build  a  SpeakApps  user  community.   6.2 Pilot  Studies     Carrying   out   pilot   studies   ensures   that   the   SpeakApps   tools   and   applications   are   being   conducted   by   teachers   within   partner   institutions   and   in   concert   with   other   external   bodies.   Partners   jointly   define   guidelines   for   pedagogical   activities.   The   pilot   studies   are   based   on   cooperative  design  methods  to  promote  the  development  of    ownership  and  authorship  in   regard   to   new   pedagogical   designs.   Further   rounds   of   pilot   studies   will   continue   to   support   development  in  the  context  of  the  technological  and  pedagogical  elements  of  the  project.     6.3 Teacher  Training   The  teacher  training  deliverable  provides  a  mechanism  to  train  language  teachers  in  the  use  of   the   SpeakApps   activities,   tools   and   platform.   It   will   initially   train   teachers   and   the   results   of   these  sessions  will  be  used  to  refine  further  training.     For   sustainable   development,   teachers   need   to   be   offered   opportunities   to   explore   the   role  of   technology  in  relation  to  their  concept  of  language  and  learning.  Building  upon  the  experience   gained   in   teacher   training  at   the   University   of   Jyväskylä   and   UOC,   the   SpeakApps   Consortium   is   developing  a  model  for  teacher  training  that  incorporates  the  following  aims:     teachers   learn   the   basic   concepts   of   task   design   and   develop   open   resources   for   developing  spoken  skills;   teachers   learn   the   basic   concepts   of   open   educational   resources   and   open   communication;   teachers  learn  to  use  the  SpeakApps  tools  in  pedagogically  meaningful  ways;       teachers   reflect   on   pedagogical   practices   with   these   tools   by  exposure   to   best   practice  
 examples;   teachers   become   familiar   with   and   contribute   to   guides   and   training   materials   which   will  be  freely  available  
to  use  or  adapt  to  other  specific  contexts.   The   approach   places   the   teacher   into   central   focus   and   emphasizes   the   professional   learning   aspect   in   order   to   support   the   sustainability   of   development.   Moreover,   it   aims   to   engage   teachers  in  a  learning  process  in  which  they  explore   the  affordances  of   the   new  tools  in  relation   to  their  pedagogical  concepts,  needs  and  current  designs.   6.4 Pedagogical  Design   12  
  • 14. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   A  set  of  tasks  and  materials  for  the  teaching  and  learning  of  spoken  skills  using  the  SpeakApps   tools   will  be  available  to  language  teachers   from   the   platform.  These   tasks   and   materials   will  be   underpinned   by   current   learning   theories   and   pedagogical   frameworks,   which   will   be   made   explicit   and   accessible   to   language   teachers   from   a   variety   of   backgrounds.   More   specifically,   guidelines,  templates  and   various  project   reports,  such  as   the   State  of   the   art  report   for   teachers   (Project  Deliverable  no.  3),  will  aid  language  teachers  with  the  creation  of  their  own  activities.     6.5 Social  Network  and  Community  Building   The   maintenance   and   development   of   the   platform   and   tools,   their   continuing   and   expanding   use,  as  well  as  the  development  of  a  rich  repository  of  tasks  and  teaching  and  learning  materials   cannot   be   sustained   without   a   dynamic   online   community   of   developers   and   users.   Such   a   community   may   be   divided   in   three   distinct,   yet   interdependent   -­‐   1)   a   community   of   open   source   developers   (e.g.   similar   to   open   source   communities),   2)   a   community   of   language   learners,   and   3)   a   community   of   language   teachers.   There   are   many   models   for   building   and   sustaining   online   communities,   and   there   may   not   be   a   fit   for   all   solution.   Different   models   and   community   orientations   that   are   particularly   relevant   to   SpeakApps  are  being  examined  by  the  consortium,  such  as  open-­‐ended  conversations,  content,   project,  and  access  to  expertise  orientations.   The   SpeakApps   platform   provides   a   social   network   element   to   facilitate   informal   learning   opportunities.   Through   the   development   of   this   feature   of   the   platform,   the   projects   aims   to   create  and  sustain  a  community  of  language  teachers.     6.6 Technological  Solution   The   SpeakApps   platform   is   built   leveraging   the   advantages   of   open   source   technologies.   The   principles  of  open  source  will  therefore  support  the  continued  refinement  of  the  tools  and  the   platform  as  the  SpeakApps  development  team  are  actively  engaged  in  developer  communities.   The  use  of  the  IMS   Learning   Tools  Interoperability  specifications   provides   for   the   integration  of   these  tools  with  other  LMS  and  CMS  and  therefore  ensures  that  the  tools  can  be  used  and  re-­‐ used  across  an  array  of  platforms  which  adhere  to  this  specification.     6.7 Dissemination     SpeakApps  has  developed  a  comprehensive  dissemination   strategy  and  this  strategy  underpins   and   augments   the   exploitation   and   the   of   the   application   amongst   the   projects   target   users   through  a  targeted  approach  examples  of  these  initiatives  to  date  include  seminars  with  target   language  teachers,  the  presentation  of  SpeakApps  at  academic  and  practice  conferences  and  the   development  of  a  comprehensive  project  website.     7   The   SpeakApps   sustainability   plan   is   centred   on   four   main   elements;   tools   and   platform,   pedagogical   development   and   support,   community   building   and   stewarding,   and   business   model.   The   development   of   each   element   is   guided   by   the   underpinning   principal   of   sustainability.   The   project   is   designed   to   ensure   that   language   teachers   can   interact   over   a   reasonable  period  of  time  with  the  SpeakApps  environment  in  a  number  of  ways  including:   13  
  • 15. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   Contributing  to  and  downloading  pedagogical  materials  in  the    target  languages   Downloading  the  tools  for  use  within  their  own  LMS  learning  context   Collaborating   with   other   language   teachers   in   the   development   and   design   of   pedagogical   activities   to   support   language   learning   with   a   particular   focus   on   spoken   skills   Accessing   an   e-­‐learning   environment   with   LMS   features   to   facilitate   both  synchronous   and  asynchronous  oral  language  production     The  progression  of  the  project  and  the  realisation  of  the  projects  work  packages  will  continue  to   refine   and   evolve   the   business   model   and   exploitation   deliverable.   The   challenge   for   the   SpeakApps  project  team  is  to  ensure  that  the  principle  of  sustainability  remains  at  the  core  of  its   mission.     14  
  • 16. Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps   This work by SpeakApps is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.   8   Britain,  S.  (2011).  On  the  Relationship  Between  Pedagogical  Design  and  Content  Management  in   eLearning.  In  N.  Ferrer  &  J.-­‐M.  Alfonso  (eds.),  Content  Management  for  E-­‐Learning  (pp.  55-­‐69).   New  York,  NY:  Springer.     Conole,   G.,   Oliver,   M.,   Falconer,   I.,   Littlejohn,   A.,   &   Harvey,   J.   (2007).   Designing   for   learning.   In   G.   Conole  &  M.  Oliver  (ed.),  Contemporary  perspectives  in  e-­‐learning  research:  Themes,  methods  and   impact  on  practice,  (pp.  101-­‐120).  Routledge  Falmer.     Conole,  G.  (forthcoming).  Designing  for  learning  in  an  open  world.  Springer.   Fischmann,   J.   (2011).   Pearson   and   Google   Jump   intp   Learning   Management,   with   a   New   Free   System,  The  Chronicle  of  Higher  Education,  October  13th  2011,  [accessed  on-­‐line  17th  October   2011].   Kopper,   R.   &   Tatterstall,   C.   (2005).   Learning   Design     A   handbook   on   modelling   and   delivering   networked  education  and  training.  Springer.   Moodle   (2011).   Moodle   Statistics,   [Retrieved   from   http://moodle.org/stats][Accessed   on-­‐line   16th  December  2011],     Rogers,  E.  M.  (2003).  Diffusion  of  innovations  (5th  Ed.).  New  York,  NY:  Free  Press.   Wiley,   D.   (2007).   On   the   sustainability   of   open   educational   resource   initiatives   in   higher   education.  OECD.       15  
  • 17. SpeakApps Project Project Nr 2010-4210 / 511552-LLP-1-2010-1-ES-KA2-KA2MP-SPKApps This project has been funded with support from the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commis - sion. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.