Créativité et recherche: des antagonistes indissociables de l’apprentissage combiné (de langues) en semi-autonomie

Since several years, the foreign language competence (mainly French) of young Flemish students and graduates is on the decrease, responding less and less well to the requirements of the job market. At the same time, the Faculty of Management of Hasselt University has had to face a reduction of the number of credit points for languages. To optimise the efficacy of education in this context, the Center of Applied Linguistics (CTL) has fully invested in the integration of modern technologies in language education and in 2002 a system of semi-autonomous blended learning was definitively implemented. This system is organized as such : the transmission and evaluation of knowledge for which the presence – physical of virtual – of a lecturer does not provide real added value takes place through fully autonomous learning using electronic modules ; feedback by the lecturer and (oral) competence training are organised through group activities, in the form of question and answer sessions and work sessions. Créativité et recherche As a response to its changed institutional context, CTL has undertaken a large international analysis of needs in communications skills of graduates starting their professional career and has created learning contents to fit those needs. Also a first authoring software was devised, enabling language lecturers, not computer scientists, to create multimedia learning modules for teaching LSP and the cultures linked to the languages learned. Considering the ubiquity and evolution of web technologies, a modernisation of the software became more and more urgent. A more flexible authoring software package was designed in 2012, based on the research in the domain of dedicated language courseware development tools, integrating several learning styles. An important improvement of the new application is the compatibility with different operating systems (Windows-Apple) and the SCORM export function making it possible to deliver the learning contents through the main LMS already in use in most higher education institutions.

ISBN:978-2813001412

Publication year:2015

Keywords:(semi-)autonomous blended learning, authoring software, CALL, design, language, culture

BOF-keylabel:yes

Accessibility:Closed