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Course Redesign

Since 2002, the Department of Classical and Modern Languages has been involved in extensive redesign of its lower-level language courses. These redesigns make aggressive use of technology to improve second language acquisition. There are three main projects: Destinos, Roadmap to Redesign, and Teaching Pronunciation via Mimicry using Voice Recognition Software. Each project was developed using Spanish, but as appropriate components of the redesign are or will be ported over to other languages.


The Destinos Project

The Destinos Project developed an on-line version of SPAN 1507 and SPAN 2607 based on viewing the 52-episode PBS telenovela Destinos. In addition students learn grammar and vocabulary using an on-line interactive tutor that was developed in-house and write compositions on-line that can be semi-automatically graded. In controlled experiments, students in the on-line course performed better in grammar, vocabulary, listening comprehension and reading comprehension than did students taught conventionally and did as well in writing and speaking. An important finding was that things traditionally taught using work-books is learned more effectively using our on-line components.


The Roadmap to Redesign (R2R) Project

The Roadmap to Redesign (R2R) Project redesigned SPAN 1507, 2301, 2302, and 2607 as blended or hybrid courses using the on-line components developed for the Destinos project. 1507 classes meet three hours a week and have two hours on-line. SPAN 2301 and 2302 meet twice a week and have two hours on-line. SPAN 2607 meets four days a week and has four hours on-line. All grammar and vocabulary, reading and writing are learned on-line. Class time is devoted entirely to oral skill development using communicative activities. In controlled experiments we found improved student performance compared to more traditional courses. The redesign of SPAN 1507 was done as part of the FIPSE-funded Roadmap to Redesign project of the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT). Our on-line components have been designed in a manner that is textbook and language independent, and can be easily used with any four-skills language textbook.

The on-line tutor component of the R2R project was ported over to lower-level German in Summer 2006.


Teaching Pronunciation via Mimicry using Voice Recognition Software

Teaching Pronunciation via Mimicry using Voice Recognition Software The least satisfactory part of our R2R redesign is the language-lab. Students use the CDs and the Lab practice manuals supplied with the Textbook. The exercises primarily involve listening comprehension. Students find the lab exercises a waste of time since it is largely redundant of what goes on in class. We have piloted and now are in the process of implementing a redesign of the Language Lab component. The focus of the redesigned lab is on pronunciation. It is done via a mimicry approach that decouples pronunciation from content production and from comprehension (meaning). It uses voice recognition software and students have to “match” their own voice print to that of native speakers. Different levels of match can be specified. This project has been supported in part by the Texas Tech Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center (TLTC), the Provost, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

The purpose of this Course Redesign website is to provide detailed documentation of our course redesign approaches, assessment data showing their effectiveness, and resources that will help other Texas public higher-education institutions do their own course redesigns following our approaches.