Creating Tutorials for Language Teaching

Prepared by:Genesis Z. Tayanes

Ed-Eng 106 Technology in Language Teaching

Why Use Web-Based Tutorials?

The use of web-based tutorials on the Internet has had a substantial impact on the nature of university teaching for it has brought about a major improvement in the ability of students to read, write, and reason (McKenzie, 1998)

The use of email and chat rooms or forum, for example, can promote communication and discussions between teachers and learners or among learners.

Why Create Your Own Web-Based LanguageLearning Activities?

Accessibility: By putting course material on the Web, teachers provide students with 24-hour, independent access to course information, and updates to Web pages and new assignments are immediately available to students.

Renewability: Once created, materials can be updated easily and often.

Adaptability: Web-based activities can easily be modified to support students at different proficiency levels or with special needs.

“technological developments demand new, innovative approaches to learning and living”- Wedemeyer (1991) as quoted in Chakravarthy (2004)

The teaching profession in the new millennium has taken a more challenging task and in order to breed students that are knowledgeable and informed, teachers require more than the traditional teaching method...teachers have to be aware of the effective use of technology..."

Shift of paradigm in language teaching and learning as outlined by Supyan, 2004

As technology develops, the nature of language teaching and learning also experiences immediate changes in terms of approach, methodology and pedagogy. The focus is now more on constructivist approach whereby teachers need to play multi-roles: instructor - facilitator - manager - designer.

With this approach, learners are being responsible for their own in which learning is autonomous and self-directed. With the ICT development, teachers also could use an integrated and eclectic kind of approaches or techniques in teaching the target language.

Limitations of Web-Based Tutorials for Language Teaching

• websites are usually designed for a particular group of learners only or they are too general and do not cater the needs for certain groups of English language learners

• existing web pages for English Language learning may be too general or may not be suitable for our local students

Challenges of Creating Web-based Tutorials to Language Teachers…

1. lack of computer knowledge2. do not know how to design and what

program/software to choose3. do not know what to include in the website;

and4. lack of time

In Order to Create Web-Based Tutorials Teachers should be:

• computer literate• Conscious to Student’s Needs• Plan teaching Objectives suit to student’s

needs• Selection of Materials to be put online• develop interactive activities• decide on the tasks and exercise

Demands in Creating Web-Based Tutorials:

• tutorials requires careful planning, • needs a lot of preparation,• time consuming

5 STEPS TO DESIGNING WEB-BASED TUTORIALSHutchinson & Waters (1994)

5 STEPS TO DESIGNING WEB-BASED TUTORIALS

• why does the students need to learn? • who is going to be involved in the process?• where is the learning to take place?• when is the learning to take place?• what does the students need to learn?• how will the learning be achieved?

Suggested Content of a Syllabus or a Course Outline

Dubin & Olshtain (1990)

Suggested Content of a Syllabus or a Course Outline • what the learners are expected to know at the end

of the course (course objectives); • what is to be taught or learned during the course; • when it is to be taught and at what rate of progress; • what are the different levels or stages; • how it is to be taught (suggesting procedures,

techniques, and materials); • how it is to be evaluated (suggesting testing and

evaluating mechanisms).

Fusing the work of Hutchinson & Waters and Dubin & Olshtain would create a framework of 5 Basic Steps in developing web-based tutorials diagram like this. (Taken from Figure 2: Steps Involved in Designing English Web-Based Tutorials)

5 BASIC STEPS TO DESIGN/DEVELOP WEB-BASED TUTORIALS

• STEP 1 - STUDY• STEP 2 - NEEDS ANALYSIS• STEP 3 - WEB-DESIGN PLANNING STAGE• STEP 4 - EVALUATION• STEP 5 - STORYBOARD

According to Windeatt, Hardisty,&Eastment (2000) –In Designing Web-based Tutorials, Designers should put into consideration the following

1. Level - the level of student for which the activity is most likely to be suitable;

2. Time - a rough guide to the time the activity is likely to take;

3. Aims - the purpose of the activity (should match the course objectives);

4. Technical Requirements - the equipment and software needed for the activity;

5. Knowledge - any special knowledge needed for students to do the activity;

6. Preparation - what you have to do or prepare before the activity;

7. Procedure - provide step-by-step instructions for each activity;

8. Follow-up - suggestions for follow-up work, wither in class, or for self-access, or homework;

9. Variations - provide activities for students of different levels.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING WEB-BASED TUTORIALS According to Kelly (2000) and Snookes, Ohtake & Kubota (2001)

• the teaching materials presented are in a suitable format - e.g. the choices of background and font colors, font size, and font types;

• the site is useable by everyone of the target group regardless of their level of proficiency in the target language;

• the site is user-friendly in which users can navigate easily with a minimal number of clicks;

• the site is useful and fun to use;

• the site allows fast-loading pages by removing unnecessary objects or graphics; and

• the site does not violate copyrights.

Main ReferencesZuwati Hasim (2005). Basic Steps for Developing English Language Web-Based

Tutorials. CALL-EJ Online Vol. 7, No.1, Posted last June 2005. Retrieved last February 11, 2014 from http://callej.org/journal/7-1/Hasim.html.

Sally Morrison, and Eric Clearinghouse. Interactive Language Learning on the Web. Eric Digest. Posted DO-FL-02-12 • December 2002. retrieved last February 11, 2014 from http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/digest_pdfs/0212morrison.pdf.

Pictures’ References

• http://hdwallsize.com/wallpaperhd/shutdown-computers-wallpaper-free-download.html

• http://insafecommunity.saferinternet.org/web/guest/blog• http://www.andrekoen.com/teacher-education-courses.html• http://www.pulsarecard.com/

r_design_web_2.0_1280x960_wallpaper_12097.html• http://myteachingstory.wordpress.com/• http://crazyleafdesign.com/blog/images/wallpaper-designs/

3/• http://rapgenius.com/Mellowhype-snare-lyrics#note-1120268

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