This document discusses strategies for successful online foreign language classrooms, with a focus on instructor interactivity, teaching realities, and collaborative learning. It recommends that instructors build a sense of community among students, provide timely feedback, and encourage interaction and collaboration through discussion forums, group activities, and technology tools like VoiceThread. Both asynchronous and synchronous engagement are important. Developing interdependence among students through shared work and goals can enhance collaborative learning online.

1. Welcome!
Please tell us what you think.
What are your thoughts about instructor
interactivity, teaching realities, and collaborative
learning in online education?
What is your favorite activity that promotes
collaboration?
Successful Online Foreign Language Classrooms:
instructor interactivity, realities, collaborative
learning
- Whitney Dubrulle, Angela Martin, Katherine Kiss

2. Successful Online
Foreign Language Classrooms
instructor interactivity, realities, collaborative
learning
ACTFL 2010
Whitney Dubrulle, Angela Martin, Kate Kiss

3. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Instructor Interactivity
Students are more likely to succeed if:
courses are highly interactive
students communicate to exchange perspectives and
insights
teachers have mastered online communication skills
interaction focuses on students
teachers use available technology to communicate with
students
http://info.sreb.org/programs/EdTech/pubs/PDF/Essential_Principles.pdf

4. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Instructor Realities
Building relationships
Fostering communications
Time management

5. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010

6. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Instructor Realities
Create a learning community that is intellectually exciting
and challenging
Encourage learners to perform to the best of their abilities
in all aspects
Demonstrate effective use of group dynamics and
dialogue techniques
Use a variety of learning activities and demonstrate
instructional methods other than lecturing
Integrate curriculum designed to provide learners with a
learning environment that is experientially based and in a
learning style that is collaborative and supportive
(See Palloff & Pratt (2007) pages 108, 109, 110)

7. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Instructor Realities
Use both asynchronous and synchronous modes of
interaction
Make the class as interactive as possible
Provide timely and meaningful feedback
Encourage learners to learn from each other
Adapted from this link: http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/OItips.htm

8. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Instructor Realities: HOW?
Attitude
Individual email
Class email
Participation in discussion forums
Feedback given on assignments
Course homepage
Availability through pager system, phone or
Skype

9. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Agree or Disagree?

10. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Agree or Disagree?
A/D You can do the same collaborative activities
online as face-to-face.

11. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Agree or Disagree?
A/D Class "community" is the first and most
important step to a successful classroom.

12. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Agree or Disagree?
A/D Interdependence is more important than
independence for online classes.

13. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Collaborative Learning
Community and Interdependence
Critical elements
Helps learners achieve a deeper level of knowledge
generation
Moves learners from independence to interdependence
Strengthens the foundation of the online learning
community
Development of shared goals – important element of
community.
“When I succeed, we succeed!”
adapted from Paloff & Pratt (2007)

14. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Collaborative Learning
Collaboration and Asynchronous Discussions
Start with introductions
Share clear expectations
Respond to each introduction
Encourage students to do the same
Design discussions for quick and regular S—S engagement
adapted from Paloff & Pratt (2007)

15. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Collaborative Learning
Develop the art of asking expansive questions:
What do you think about x?
Design for student leadership – share responsibility
among participants
Require students to provide constructive feedback to one
another
Create a role for instructor as equal player in the
discussion –helps with respectful time management
adapted from Paloff & Pratt (2007) p. 170

16. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Collaborative Learning
5 Tools we have used to successfully enhance and
encourage collaboration and community building:
VoiceThread http://voicethread.com/
Jing Project http://www.techsmith.com/jing/
E-pals http://www.epals.com/
Voki http://www.voki.com/
Wikis http://www.wikispaces.com/
http://pbworks.com/

17. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Brainstorming activity
How might you translate your favorite F2F class
collaborative (or other great) activity for use in an
online class?
OOVOO.com skype but more!!
Tokbox

18. Dubrulle & Martin ACTFL 2010
Thank yo u fo r co m ing !
http://apling696-fa09.wikispaces.umb.edu/
Whitney Dubrulle,
GAVS whitne.dubrulle@gavirtualschool.org
Angela Martin,
angelapm@yahoo.com
Katherine Kiss,
Umass, Boston katherine.kiss@umb.edu