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Education's DigitalStream
6th Annual Conference, March
25-27, 2004
Evaluating
On-Line Language Learning: The Case of ‘Spanish Without Walls’
(45 min.)
Thursday, March 25th
11:30 a.m.
Bldg. 45/102
Robert Blake, UC Language Consortium
Abstract:
Interest in online language learning is growing in response to the potential
of distance learning in higher education (Alosh 2001), despite a dearth
of research evaluating its efficacy vis-à-vis the traditional classroom
(Supinski, Sutherland & Valentine 2001). This study examines the performance
of students enrolled in ‘Spanish Without Walls’, an online
introductory Spanish course offered through the UC Davis Extension, which
includes CD-ROM instruction, content-based Web activities, and a chat
tool with telephonic sound. The students’ linguistic gains were
measured using both the BYU’s computer adaptive test and a discrete-item
grammar test. These results were compared with the performance on the
same exams by undergraduates enrolled in traditional Spanish courses at
UC Davis. In addition, questionnaires were used to assess student satisfaction
with the online learning experience. The results demonstrate that online
performance was superior on these measurements, but students still miss
the opportunity to engage in face-to-face practice.
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