OLE usage grows
The Online Language Environments (OLE) Board received record use during the Fall 2007 semester. Almost 1600 students in 60 course sections used OLE to complete assignments in courses including Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese and Business Communication.
As more students started using OLE for assignments, we found that access was becoming an issue. OSCR resources were stretched to their limit and some of the equipment being used was not adequate for the student assignments.
To address the needs of students and faculty new to OLE, we instituted several strategies:
- New OLE orientation programs were instituted for faculty and student. Teachers and students received hands-on experience with OLE in a no-pressure atmosphere where help was immediately available.
- OSCR computer labs with Web cameras to access OLE were used to capacity. We had instructors stagger assignment due dates so that all students were not trying to access the system at the same time. The College of Humanities (COH) Technical Support team purchased and installed Web cameras in a Modern Languages computer lab. This lab, with trained staff, could be scheduled for student assignments.
- A new trend with OLE assignments this semester was that multiple students were expected to be talking to each other on OLE, mimicing real life conversational experiences. The standard Web cameras did not easily facilitate this so wide-angle Web cameras were purchased by the LTC, OSCR and COH to better facilitate this type of assignment.
OLE will continue to be developed and improved. Several pilot tests are being planned with other universities and K-12 schools.
For more info
OLE Board
OLE is a project of CERCLL
RSS Feed: