John Bransford?

[MiaKalish - LFP]

Hi, Ilse, 

I downloaded the Shockwave, and then the special software for Fairfield. 

The pictures are nice. I liked that they are culturally-specific (Kiswahilli & Latin). 

I liked the relational learning (puer et canis, puella et femina, vir et femina, vir et puer; "puer" and "puella" are the 2 knowns at this point). 

I liked that people had choices of the interface language, although the learning languages were not interface options (should be :-), how Else will people learn the words for technology? 

The navigation wasn't intuitive for me. It seemed to be sequentially controlled, and wasn't easy for me to get back to the lexical learning area. I did find the "Preview/exercise toggle", finally. Also, the sounds only repeated once, in sequence. For speaking, I would have wanted them to repeat over and over. That would allow me the learner to control hearing what was difficult for me more than what was easy for me. For example, in Apache we have a voiceless l that is very difficult for people, and they have to hear it and say it over and over. 

Also, for some of the items, for example in Hebrew, I couldn't tell what I was learning. Was I learning to say that "The girl was studying"? "The girl was reading"? "The girl was comparing her notes to a good source"? "The girl was looking at notes in the library/office/room"? Was the boy riding the horse? Breaking the horse? Riding in a rodeo? 

It was funny to see a soccer ball in Latin, although I know that Latin is a full second language in Rome, so there has to have been some extension. 

Overall, this is pretty good. I think it merits 83-87. It could score higher by being more user-responsive. Don't get discouraged. Most language learning materials don't rate above a 45-50. Many, especially the text one, where a teacher is absolutely required, as is a good memory, and the students don't really have a chance, don't get above a 20. 

Suggested improvements: 
    *** Improve the Nav
    *** Target language interface 
    *** Greater technological support for improved distinctions (motion for verbs, etc). 
    *** Word discrimination (I couldn't tell where the word breaks were in Hebrew)  I did find the repeat sound option, though. [The relationships weren't as good in the Hebrew as in Latin. They appear to start with a cat, add the woman to the girl, add a man to the woman, and then add A Different Man to the boy. In Latin, the similarity in the pictures provides a scaffolding. In Hebrew, the visual scaffolding goes awry.) 

Sometimes, people who are native speakers of a language make loose and wide assumptions about what it immediately apprehensible or intuitively others. I generally find that speaking to them in Technologicalese brings the problem home. 

Thanks, this was fun and informative. I hope others try it out. 

Best, 
Mia

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ilse Ackerman 
  To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU 
  Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 8:25 AM
  Subject: Re: John Bransford?



  Hi Mia,

  Good question -- the indigenous language software isn't offered under the same terms as our other languages. We don't produce indigenous language software to sell directly to consumers. We're contracted by indigenous language groups to produce the software, and they own the final software and can replicate it and distribute it however they wish, whether at cost to their community, or free to their schools, or hosted online for a wider audience. So it requires an initial investment of labor and money, and then the product can be used as widely as desired.

  The software works by immersion because it uses images to convey meaning. Then it uses those language elements as building blocks to introduce further language step by step. There is actually an online demo accessible at the following url. Although there's a form to fill out, it only requires your name and email (not shared with third parties).

  http://www.rosettastone.com/ind/free_demo

  Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be interested in your feedback, too!

  ilse

  On Sep 27, 2004, at 9:38 AM, MiaKalish - LFP wrote:


    Hi, Ilse,
     
    I looked up your company. You make quite a number of language learning products. They seem to me a bit expensive, though, especially for the Indigenous learner. How will the new products be priced?
     
    Also, I didn't see any "try before you buy" downloads. How do they work?
     
    Thanks, and thanks for your kind words. Sometimes the list is so quiet, I'm not sure anyone is there, but I am very glad to see there is.
     
    Mia
     
     
     
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Ilse Ackerman 
    To: ILAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU 
    Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 6:41 AM
    Subject: Re: John Bransford?


    On Sep 25, 2004, at 8:49 AM, MiaKalish - LFP wrote:


    One more question: Does anyone know the work of John Bransford? I just noticed that he has quite a collection of books on computer supported learning, the psychology of learning, etc, and I wondered if people have combined any of this with L&C Revitalization, or multi-lingual educational materials.
     
    Maybe just one more question: Does anyone out there work on multi-lingual educational materials? Computer-based?

    Dear Mia,

    I've enjoyed reading your posts. I work on computer-based immersion software for language revitalization. Two indigenous language projects are underway, about six months from completion. The software has been successful for teaching mainstream languages, and I'm eager to see the results in the Mohawk and Iñupiaq communities.

    Best wishes on your move and studies....

    ilse
    ____________________________
    Ilse Ackerman
    Program Manager
    Endangered Language Program
    Fairfield Language Technologies
    Harrisonburg, VA 22802 USA

    Tel 1.800.788.0822 Ext. 3318
    Tel 1.540.432.6166 Ext. 3318
    Fax 1.540.432.0953

    www.rosettastone.com/languagerescue
    _______________________________
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ilat/attachments/20040927/ca41ec86/attachment.htm>