Rick Lavin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Rick Lavin

This chapter combines two sections on relatively new technologies, blogs and wikis, with a third ... more This chapter combines two sections on relatively new technologies, blogs and wikis, with a third on digital storytelling, to introduce the possibilities of creating sets of many-to-many relations within and between classes, and to encourage educators to take up blogs, wikis, and digital storytelling in their classrooms as a way of returning to a state of “beginner’s mind”. These tools are not only powerful in and of themselves, but may have an even greater potential when used together. The first section on blogs argues that they may be the best all-round tool for computer-mediated communication (CMC), allowing learners and educators alike to build their online identities in a semi-enclosed space from which they can venture out on their own terms to engage with others. The following section on wikis points to possibilities of using these powerful tools for collaboration, suggesting that in many cases wikis work better when learners and educators already have a solid foundation in blo...

To put an array of technological options available to language instructors into perspective, we r... more To put an array of technological options available to language instructors into perspective, we review five projects involving blended computer uses for language instruction and teacher development purposes. All five share the characteristics that the computer is utilized more as a tool than a tutor (Levy, 1997) and that computers are used more outside the classroom than inside so as not to supplant face-to-face communication (Lavin, 2002). We examine dimensions along which these approaches differ, attempting along the way to illuminate desirable characteristics. We conclude that blended approaches offer a great deal of instructional flexibility at virtually no cost.

Many researchers have to juggle the demands of research with those of teaching and administration... more Many researchers have to juggle the demands of research with those of teaching and administration. Being able to capture snippets of information quickly and reliably in odd moments during a busy semester is essential for building up the momentum to start writing over weekends or school vacations. Mac OS X's Unix base has encouraged a host of developers to produce a surprising variety of cheap but powerful and innovative applications for educators and scholars. Here are some tools that may facilitate the process of capturing and storing information, a necessary prelude to writing. One is a Mac OS X-only database with a difference, and the others are programs with wider availability that can profitably be used alongside it.

High hopes have been held for the potential of laptop computers to transform e-learning and blend... more High hopes have been held for the potential of laptop computers to transform e-learning and blended learning by bringing computers to the students rather than forcing students to go to the computers, as is usually the case with computing labs. Although there have been some successes, particularly with small and light netbooks, in many cases e-learning looks very much like it did a decade or more ago. In this paper, drawing on his experiences in a small-scale project using iPads in language education classes, the author weighs the potential of Apple's iPad and similar tablet devices in bringing low-cost and convenient educational computing to students. It is suggested that learning in custom-built computer labs may be seen as the first wave of e-learning, learning with laptops as the second wave, and learning with tablets as the third wave. In this third wave, it is expected that the trend away from discrete blended learning and toward integrated blended learning will accelerate....

This paper explores the uses of weblogs and wikis as asynchronous computer-mediated communication... more This paper explores the uses of weblogs and wikis as asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools in language education. After a brief introduction outlining the author's approach to technological tools in language teaching, the main section of the paper discusses the place of weblogs and outlines possible advantages of weblogs over discussion forums. A definition of weblogs is suggested, as well as a conceptualization of their use in terms of purpose, weight, mode, and implementation. A shorter section introduces wikis as possible complements to weblogs and argues that, in contexts where time and technical know-how allow, they have possibilities offered by no other major technology and warrant greater attention. 本論文では、 wiki 及び weblog の非同期 CMC の道 具としての可能性を探る。 Weblogの幅広い活躍を期待し、 ある場合には、 BBSを代替するこ とが出来るであろう。 さらに高度な交流を実現するためには、 wiki が重要な役割を果たせるであろう。 但し、 wiki を導入するためには、 教員に求められ る技術、 また使用法を学習者に指導することにあたっての問題点について議論を行う。

The practice of extensive reading (ER) is enjoying a boom in Japanese universities. Waring's bala... more The practice of extensive reading (ER) is enjoying a boom in Japanese universities. Waring's balanced curriculum hypothesis suggests that students, in addition to fluency-focused input, also require fluency-focused output. Though the evidence regarding writing extensively is rather more tenuous than that for ER, we advocate a practice that, by obvious analogy, we call Extensive Writing (EW). We suggest that computer-mediated communication is likely to encourage greater participation, and suggest that an internet-hosted bulletin board system such as ezboard is a suitable medium for this practice.

In this study, we attempt to ascertain the usability of wikis in EFL contexts. To this purpose, w... more In this study, we attempt to ascertain the usability of wikis in EFL contexts. To this purpose, we compare wiki engines and choose a promising candidate, conduct a teacher evaluation using Nielsen's usability heuristics, and trial the software with pairs of students. We focus as much as possible on "low-level" or "nuts and bolts" issues pertaining to the user interface, attempting to isolate these issues from contextual factors such as task design. The lack of popularity of wikis compared to weblogs, despite the former's longer history, suggests that wikis might be more difficult to use than weblogs, and our findings suggest that this indeed is the case. Particular problems appear to be creating links, despite the CamelCase device which is supposed to make linking trivially easy, and the dissonance caused by using a read-write or production-consumption environment in a medium designed for read/production only with browsers suited to such a medium. We offe...

I examine various controversial aspects of Chinese prosody-tone structure, syllable structure, st... more I examine various controversial aspects of Chinese prosody-tone structure, syllable structure, stress, and intonation-and stress the need to view all of these as interacting systems, aspects of a hierarchical prosodic structure. I examine various proposals at these various levels of the hierarchy and suggest which are most appropriate. Specifically, I suggest the adoption of Bao's version of syllable and tone, and Chen's account of stress. As for intonation, it is still not possible to make any definitive claims regarding an optimal model, but I examine work done by Kratochvil, Shih, and Garding et al, and suggest promising directions for future work.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to: • Understand the notion of learners' id... more After completing this chapter, you should be able to: • Understand the notion of learners' identities and how it underpins all online communication. • Be aware of the issues related to online identities. • Know how educators can support learners as they establish their identities in the context of online education.

Essential Teacher, 2007

For teachers using technology to improve teaching and learning, it is hard not to get excited abo... more For teachers using technology to improve teaching and learning, it is hard not to get excited about the possibilities of wiki software. Not only Wikipedia (1), but also smaller, more focused wiki projects such as Wikitravel (2), Wikibooks (3), or one of the many examples ...

jalt-publications.org

In this paper, we suggest that wikis deserve serious consideration as an important tool of the co... more In this paper, we suggest that wikis deserve serious consideration as an important tool of the constructivist educator. After a brief review of Piagetian and Vygotskian constructivism, and a look at the literature on the implementation of constructivist education using technology, we adopt six recommended constructivist elements of online tools or environments (multiple modes of representation, collaboration opportunities, experience with multiple perspectives, learner centered, learner relevant,and social negotiation) and argue that wikis’ fit with these elements appears to be a good one. We sketch several actual and hypothetical educational uses of wikis as illustrations of their potential, and highlight directions for future research. Cite as: Lavin, R., & Claro, J. (2005). Wikis as constructivist learning environments. JALT CALL 2005 Proceedings (pp. 9-13). JALT CALL 2005.

This chapter combines two sections on relatively new technologies, blogs and wikis, with a third ... more This chapter combines two sections on relatively new technologies, blogs and wikis, with a third on digital storytelling, to introduce the possibilities of creating sets of many-to-many relations within and between classes, and to encourage educators to take up blogs, wikis, and digital storytelling in their classrooms as a way of returning to a state of “beginner’s mind”. These tools are not only powerful in and of themselves, but may have an even greater potential when used together. The first section on blogs argues that they may be the best all-round tool for computer-mediated communication (CMC), allowing learners and educators alike to build their online identities in a semi-enclosed space from which they can venture out on their own terms to engage with others. The following section on wikis points to possibilities of using these powerful tools for collaboration, suggesting that in many cases wikis work better when learners and educators already have a solid foundation in blo...

To put an array of technological options available to language instructors into perspective, we r... more To put an array of technological options available to language instructors into perspective, we review five projects involving blended computer uses for language instruction and teacher development purposes. All five share the characteristics that the computer is utilized more as a tool than a tutor (Levy, 1997) and that computers are used more outside the classroom than inside so as not to supplant face-to-face communication (Lavin, 2002). We examine dimensions along which these approaches differ, attempting along the way to illuminate desirable characteristics. We conclude that blended approaches offer a great deal of instructional flexibility at virtually no cost.

Many researchers have to juggle the demands of research with those of teaching and administration... more Many researchers have to juggle the demands of research with those of teaching and administration. Being able to capture snippets of information quickly and reliably in odd moments during a busy semester is essential for building up the momentum to start writing over weekends or school vacations. Mac OS X's Unix base has encouraged a host of developers to produce a surprising variety of cheap but powerful and innovative applications for educators and scholars. Here are some tools that may facilitate the process of capturing and storing information, a necessary prelude to writing. One is a Mac OS X-only database with a difference, and the others are programs with wider availability that can profitably be used alongside it.

High hopes have been held for the potential of laptop computers to transform e-learning and blend... more High hopes have been held for the potential of laptop computers to transform e-learning and blended learning by bringing computers to the students rather than forcing students to go to the computers, as is usually the case with computing labs. Although there have been some successes, particularly with small and light netbooks, in many cases e-learning looks very much like it did a decade or more ago. In this paper, drawing on his experiences in a small-scale project using iPads in language education classes, the author weighs the potential of Apple's iPad and similar tablet devices in bringing low-cost and convenient educational computing to students. It is suggested that learning in custom-built computer labs may be seen as the first wave of e-learning, learning with laptops as the second wave, and learning with tablets as the third wave. In this third wave, it is expected that the trend away from discrete blended learning and toward integrated blended learning will accelerate....

This paper explores the uses of weblogs and wikis as asynchronous computer-mediated communication... more This paper explores the uses of weblogs and wikis as asynchronous computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools in language education. After a brief introduction outlining the author's approach to technological tools in language teaching, the main section of the paper discusses the place of weblogs and outlines possible advantages of weblogs over discussion forums. A definition of weblogs is suggested, as well as a conceptualization of their use in terms of purpose, weight, mode, and implementation. A shorter section introduces wikis as possible complements to weblogs and argues that, in contexts where time and technical know-how allow, they have possibilities offered by no other major technology and warrant greater attention. 本論文では、 wiki 及び weblog の非同期 CMC の道 具としての可能性を探る。 Weblogの幅広い活躍を期待し、 ある場合には、 BBSを代替するこ とが出来るであろう。 さらに高度な交流を実現するためには、 wiki が重要な役割を果たせるであろう。 但し、 wiki を導入するためには、 教員に求められ る技術、 また使用法を学習者に指導することにあたっての問題点について議論を行う。

The practice of extensive reading (ER) is enjoying a boom in Japanese universities. Waring's bala... more The practice of extensive reading (ER) is enjoying a boom in Japanese universities. Waring's balanced curriculum hypothesis suggests that students, in addition to fluency-focused input, also require fluency-focused output. Though the evidence regarding writing extensively is rather more tenuous than that for ER, we advocate a practice that, by obvious analogy, we call Extensive Writing (EW). We suggest that computer-mediated communication is likely to encourage greater participation, and suggest that an internet-hosted bulletin board system such as ezboard is a suitable medium for this practice.

In this study, we attempt to ascertain the usability of wikis in EFL contexts. To this purpose, w... more In this study, we attempt to ascertain the usability of wikis in EFL contexts. To this purpose, we compare wiki engines and choose a promising candidate, conduct a teacher evaluation using Nielsen's usability heuristics, and trial the software with pairs of students. We focus as much as possible on "low-level" or "nuts and bolts" issues pertaining to the user interface, attempting to isolate these issues from contextual factors such as task design. The lack of popularity of wikis compared to weblogs, despite the former's longer history, suggests that wikis might be more difficult to use than weblogs, and our findings suggest that this indeed is the case. Particular problems appear to be creating links, despite the CamelCase device which is supposed to make linking trivially easy, and the dissonance caused by using a read-write or production-consumption environment in a medium designed for read/production only with browsers suited to such a medium. We offe...

I examine various controversial aspects of Chinese prosody-tone structure, syllable structure, st... more I examine various controversial aspects of Chinese prosody-tone structure, syllable structure, stress, and intonation-and stress the need to view all of these as interacting systems, aspects of a hierarchical prosodic structure. I examine various proposals at these various levels of the hierarchy and suggest which are most appropriate. Specifically, I suggest the adoption of Bao's version of syllable and tone, and Chen's account of stress. As for intonation, it is still not possible to make any definitive claims regarding an optimal model, but I examine work done by Kratochvil, Shih, and Garding et al, and suggest promising directions for future work.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to: • Understand the notion of learners' id... more After completing this chapter, you should be able to: • Understand the notion of learners' identities and how it underpins all online communication. • Be aware of the issues related to online identities. • Know how educators can support learners as they establish their identities in the context of online education.

Essential Teacher, 2007

For teachers using technology to improve teaching and learning, it is hard not to get excited abo... more For teachers using technology to improve teaching and learning, it is hard not to get excited about the possibilities of wiki software. Not only Wikipedia (1), but also smaller, more focused wiki projects such as Wikitravel (2), Wikibooks (3), or one of the many examples ...

jalt-publications.org

In this paper, we suggest that wikis deserve serious consideration as an important tool of the co... more In this paper, we suggest that wikis deserve serious consideration as an important tool of the constructivist educator. After a brief review of Piagetian and Vygotskian constructivism, and a look at the literature on the implementation of constructivist education using technology, we adopt six recommended constructivist elements of online tools or environments (multiple modes of representation, collaboration opportunities, experience with multiple perspectives, learner centered, learner relevant,and social negotiation) and argue that wikis’ fit with these elements appears to be a good one. We sketch several actual and hypothetical educational uses of wikis as illustrations of their potential, and highlight directions for future research. Cite as: Lavin, R., & Claro, J. (2005). Wikis as constructivist learning environments. JALT CALL 2005 Proceedings (pp. 9-13). JALT CALL 2005.