(2012) overview of integration of peer collaboration and other synchronous elements into independent study, asynchronous online language courses.

1. Bonjour, Привет, Nín hǎo!
Integrating Peer Collaboration into
Asynchronous Language Learning
Test/assess –
with timely
feedback!
Practice
Learn

2. BYU Independent Study
 Correspondence courses since 1920s
 Mailed packets, limited instructor
interaction
 Late 1990’s: transition to online platform
 2009: Transition to internal LMS
 2012: checkpoint model
 2013: highly-interactive model
 Over 100,000 course enrollments

3. Brigham Young University World
Languages
 More than 50 languages taught regularly, with an
additional 30 languages available
 70% of students speak a second language
 6% of student body is from outside the U. S.,
representing more than 110 countries
 Rich resources for language instruction
 BYU Independent Study: nine high school and
seven university level world languages online

4. BYU Independent Study’s
“Old” Model
 Correspondence style
 Paper packet
 Written assignments
 Computer-graded quizzes
 Recorded speaking submitted once or twice
 No live instructor interaction
 Written feedback (no oral feedback)

5. Changing Asynchronous Learning
 Instructor interaction
 Live course orientations
 Live weekly lesson activities/reviews
 Recorded podcasts/guest lectures
 Live one-on-one speaking assessment in every
lesson
 Conversation café
 Dynamic exams
 Course wiki

6. How about the Learner’s Experience?
 Collaboration and interaction
 Conversation Café
 Discussion boards
 Group/partner drills
 Informal cohorts
 How much peer interaction is the “right”
amount?

7. How Much Mobile?
 Is mobile “right” for complete course content
delivery?
 iNACOL study: students want specific elements
on their mobile device, not the whole course
 Grades, announcements, practice drills, bite
size short attention span activities

8. What We Built
 Mobile-ready courseware (HTML 5)
 Mobile apps to allow spontaneous practice of
vocab, grammar, characters, etc.
 Currently only in iTunes; Android apps in
development
 BYU Online CHIN 41
 BYU Online JAPAN 43

9. Apps & Conversation Cafe
Japanese & Chinese apps on iTunes; search:
• BYU Online Japanese
• BYU Online Chinese
Visit Conversation Café
• Email Steven or Jennifer to get a unique link giving
you access to the Conversation Café
405: Bonjour, Привет, Nín hǎo! A Speaking
Engagement You Don't Want to Miss

10. View Speaking Appointment highlights

11. Student Response Data: since January
12%
53%
24%
12%
How effective are Speaking Appointments?
5
4
3
2
1

12. Speaking Appointments…
34%
31%
14%
7%
10%
Create a better course
experience
Help me improve my
speaking/pronunciation
Get me excited about
speaking Japanese
Could be better if there
were more of them
Take too much time

13. Courses with New Model
Speaking Appointments
& Live Broadcasts
• Japanese
• Chinese
• Arabic
• German
• Russian
• Spanish
• French
• Coming
soon: ASL
Speaking Appointments, Live
Broadcasts, & Conversation Café
• Currently live: Chinese,
Arabic
• Coming soon: Russian,
Japanese, French,
German, Spanish, ASL

14. Unique Resources
 High enrollments (volume)
 Access to native & fluent speakers
 Existing technology/software license
 MyLanguageLabs (Pearson)
 AdobeConnect (mobile & desktop applications)
 Mobile-ready etexts (Pearson)
 Inspiration from campus math/writing labs

15. Overcoming Challenges
 (Disruptive Learning) Large organization
undergoing significant paradigm shift
 Case studies (entities helping drive
development vs holding onto the old paradigm)
 Customer support/student services: what does
student support look like in a mobile age?

16. Progress Yet to Make
 Software limitations
 Scalability with highest volume courses
 Partnering with outside sources
 Content development
 Continuing to overcome resistance to change
What have you done in your organization?
What challenges have you faced with
implementing collaborative learning?

17. For More Information
 Online: elearn.byu.edu
 Steven Park, Asst. Director of Production
 Steven.park@byu.edu, 801.422.9311
 Jennifer Quinlan, Instructional Designer
 Jennifer.quinlan@byu.edu, 801.422.8498