Future of the Language Lab

[Tony Anemone]

Fred, Thanks for the note, and for the suggestion to  contact Don Bayer.

All the best,

Tony
On Oct 19, 2004, at 2:55 PM, Dr. Frederick H. White wrote:

> Dear Tony,
>
> We are going through similar negotiations about our lab at the moment.
> I do think that the internet is going to greatly influence the Language
> Lab as we once knew it.  I encourage my students to access the web for
> their workbook assignments, and listening drills at home if possible.
> We use Golosa and there is a lot available on the website.  Some of our
> students do not have the option of home internet usage (we don't
> require
> students to buy computers) so my suggestion has been that our LL be
> outfitted with high-speed connections, headphones and individualized
> work areas to service those students who cannot work at home or prefer
> to work on their assignments at the university.
>
> You might want to contact Dan Bayer at the University of So.
> California.
> USC redid their language lab about 8 years ago with New Media concepts.
> Dan could probably give you good insight into how that has worked out.
>
>
> Best of luck.
>
> Cheers,
> F
>
> ********************************
> Dr. Frederick H. White
> Memorial University   SN3056
> Department of German and Russian
> St. John's, NL    A1B 3X9
> Ph: 709-737-8829
> Fax: 709-737-4000
> Office: 709-737-8831
> *********************************
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list
> [mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU] On Behalf Of Tony Anemone
> Sent: Tuesday, 19 October, 2004 16:10
> To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
> Subject: [SEELANGS] Future of the Language Lab
>
> Colleagues,
>
> As part of university-wide planning for the technology needs of the
> future, the language programs at William and Mary have been asked to
> think about the future of our Multi-Media Computing Center (what we
> used to call our Language lab).  For example, we have been asked to
> list the specific activities that faculty and students in the modern
> languages and literatures presently use and anticipate using in the
> future.  Two parts of the agenda driving the discussion are that W & M
> is moving to have all undergraduate students purchase standard laptop
> computers and a new media center is about to open in the library.  Both
> of these initiative are seen by the people in Information Technology
> and the Dean's office as good reasons to downsize or close the lab or
> to transform it into a high-tech teaching and training facility.
>
> I would appreciate hearing from any colleagues who have experience with
> such issues or strong opinions about the future of language labs. e.g.,
>   Do you think that laptop technology in the hands of faculty and
> students renders language labs obsolete?  Are there unanticipated
> problems that you have experienced with similar transformations at your
> universities?  Do you agree that textbooks with instructional trapes,
> CDs or DVDs, and Windows computers on which one can tape, save and
> share speech excerpts, etc. can indeed fulfill the traditional
> functions of the lab.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tony
>
>
>
> Tony Anemone, Chair MLL
> Associate Professor of Russian
> P.O. Box 8795
> Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
> College of William and Mary
> phone:          757-221-3636
> fax:            757-221-3637
>
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Tony Anemone, Chair MLL
Associate Professor of Russian
P.O. Box 8795
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
College of William and Mary
phone:          757-221-3636
fax:            757-221-3637

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