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Developing Interactive Instructional Software for Language Acquisition
Author(s) -
MastersWicks Karen,
Postlewate Laurie,
Lewental Mark
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.1996.tb02328.x
Subject(s) - computer science , restructuring , curriculum , foreign language , software , multimedia , project team , software development , active listening , software project management , software engineering , engineering management , mathematics education , pedagogy , knowledge management , software construction , psychology , engineering , programming language , communication , finance , economics
As part of an ongoing effort to restructure the language curriculum and integrate multimedia technology at the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York, a project team was formed in September 1993 to develop interactive instructional software for use in the first four semesters of French instruction. The goals of this project were twofold: first, to provide software for a multimedia laboratory environment to enhance classroom instruction; second, to initiate a training program for the language faculty of the College of Staten Island that would encourage development of software in foreign languages. The pedagogical focus of the software developed by the project team is on the use of interactive exercises to strengthen listening and writing skills and to perfect oral proficiency. The following report provides information on the hardware and primary software chosen for the project, a step‐by‐step description of the creation of interactive lessons and student use of lessons, discussion of some of the technical problems encountered in the execution of the project, and a description of new developments in the project. The objective here is to share our experiences with faculty and staff who are interested in the development of interactive software for language classes.