Online tools for language support HEA Seminar 23 June 2011

Rissa de la Paz

Student Services

Topics

• Role of Student Services in developing practical tools for language support

• Resources for key audiences– tutors– potential and existing students

• Next steps

Student Services

• Main online portals for students and tutors

• Information, advice and guidance

• Study support (outside modules)

Addressing key audiences• Each audience has its own portal through which it

can access a bespoke website and resources.

Tutor site: issues

• Build confidence in responding to language needs

• Develop language skills alongside subject-specific ones

• Move from a deficit model to developmental one

• Accommodate differing tutor priorities

Tutor-facing site

• Pooled expertise from Open ELT plus tutors in nations and regions

OU Language strategy

• Link between language and learning

• Initiatives in developing language across the curriculum

• Modules with integrated language support

A framework for academic writing

• MASUS

• Considers academic writing in four distinct areas:– Use of source material– Structure and

development of text– Academic writing style– Grammar, spelling &

punctuation

MASUS checklist

Online resources

• Resources grouped under 4 main areas of MASUS• Divided into topic areas for easy reference• Flagged for students/tutors and for language level

Insights on feedback

• Tutors reflect with a language specialist on how they give feedback to students

• Examples include Technology short answers and a Social science essay

MASUS: the payoff• Framework for main areas of successful academic

writing

• Aide-memoire for issues to focus on as a priority

• Draws attention to structuring and developing text

• Enables feedback to be targeted at specific areas of strength and of developmental need

• Ongoing dialogue with students

Enquirer site: issues

• Harness power of student stories

• Assess English language level and provide appropriate guidance

• Address academic and cultural issues

• Approach not remedial but developmental

Enquirer site

Video stories

• Video stories cover cultural and academic issues• Incorporated as part of reflective activities to add value

Video stories• What users valued :

– authentic tone– diversity of cultural perspectives– students’ feelings resonated with their own– students’ views prompted self reflection

• ‘It is very good to get feedback from other people who are actually studying.’

• ‘People are sometimes scared of challenges because they are afraid to fail. It helps a lot because you see it is possible to do it.’

How good is your English?

• Assess your level of English ability in four main skills

• Rate yourself against recognised checklist based on the Common European Framework

• Score places you into one of three categories– basic user (levels A1 or A2)– fairly confident user (levels B1 or B2)– very fluent user (levels C1 and C2)

How good is your English?

How good is your English?

How good is your English?

Language levels

• For Level 1 OU modules : a minimum of B1 for reading and writing and B2 for listening and speaking

European Framework

Cambridge Exams

CambridgeBusiness

IELTS bands

A1 1.0 to 2.0

A2 3.0

B1 BEC Preliminary

3.5 to 4.5

B2 First certificate BEC Vantage 5.0 to 5.5

C1 Cambridge Advanced

BEC Higher 6.5 to 7.0

C2 Proficiency CPE

7.5 +

How good is your English?• The majority of users found the statements easy to

understand.• A third of users found the statements only fairly easy.• ‘If you don’t understand the sentence, it’s not your level.’

• Results clear and feedback helpful• Scores matched their expectations• Easy to overrate yourself

• ‘You need to be honest with yourself’• ‘You would need to do a test to be sure.’

Next steps