EVENT DETAILS

Hybrid and Online Language Courses: Best (and Worst) Practices by Dr. Florencia Henshaw from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

The role of technology in language courses ranges from being a supplemental component (e.g., assignments completed with the help of web-based resources), to serving as either a partial replacement of instructional time, as in the case of hybrid courses, or the sole means of instruction, as in fully-online courses. The affordances of computer-assisted language learning have been described in the literature for over three decades. However, designing and teaching online language courses that integrate meaningful language use, as well as authentic synchronous and asynchronous communication, still remains a daunting task for both educators and program administrators. In this workshop, I will first summarize the advantages and disadvantages of technology-enhanced language instruction, based on what research has shown, particularly with respect to the effectiveness of hybrid and online language courses. I will then discuss best practices for online teaching and for selecting Web 2.0 tools that foster meaningful interpretive, presentational, and interpersonal communication. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of ways to make hybrid and online language courses a frustration-free learning experience, as well as with concrete ideas and tools they can implement in their own courses.

Please note that we will issue certificates of attendance for UC Irvine graduate students and lecturers as well as K-12 teachers who wish to get professional development credit. Send an email to Professor Torres, if you’d like to get a certificate of attendance: torresju@uci.edu.