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April 1, 2009

Multimedia in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
4:00 - 4:50 pm
Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Internet Resources for Teaching Literature

The Internet provides a vast source of materials for the study of foreign language literature. In this session, we will examine three types of resources: (1) repositories of electronic text, (2) "spoken" literature, and (3) supplementary cultural materials to enhance the study of literary texts.

March 18, 2009

Multimedia  in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
4:00 - 4:50 pm
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Web Page Clinic

In this week's session, participants will have the opportunity to continue working on their personal web pages and receive assistance with web page creation and/or publication.

March 5, 2009

Multimedia  in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
4:00 - 4:50 pm
Thursday, March 5, 2009

Orientation to the UPOLAI

This workshop will serve as an introduction to the University of Pittsburgh Oral Assessment Instrument (UPOLAI) Project. The UPOLAI is a computer-based speaking test for foreign languages. It is under development by the Robert Henderson Language Media Center, the Departments of Hispanic Languages and Literatures, Germanic Languages and Literatures, and French and Italian Languages and Literatures, and the Jewish Studies Program.

February 26, 2009

Multimedia  in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
4:00 – 4:50 pm
Thursday, February 26, 2009

YouTube as a resource for language learning

YouTube and other Internet-based video sharing services have made video clips available  to the public as never before. These short movies are posted in a wide variety of languages, and many can be used effectively  in language teaching and learning.

In this session, we will look at YouTube and other video sharing services such as TeacherTube. I will demonstrate  how to download videos, so you may wish to bring a jump drive in order to save the video of your choice. We will also discuss other uses of these services, such as creating playlists,  sharing one’s own videos, and having students create their own videos.

February 19, 2009

Multimedia in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
3:00 – 4:50 pm
Thursday, February 19, 2009

How to Make a Web Page

In this semester’s “web page” session, I will give an overview of what a web page is and how it can be created and published. Everyone will make a simple web page with graphics and links.

Note that this will be a 2-hour session. On Wednesday, March 18, there will be a follow-up “web page clinic” during which participants will be guided through the process of publishing their pages.

February 9, 2009

Multimedia in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
4:00 - 4:50 pm
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Copyright and fair use for language educators

What media may be legally copied, and under what circumstances may they be used? These questions are frequently asked in the Language Media Center, and we will attempt to provide some answers in this session. First we will review the University of Pittsburgh’s guidelines for making reproductions of copyrighted material. Then we will consider the doctrine of fair use and discuss the resources available under Creative Commons licenses. An Associate Counsel of the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of General Counsel has agreed to respond to any questions that I am not able to answer in this session.

Multimedia  in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
4:00 – 4:50 pm
Thursday, February 5, 2009

Overview of social networking tools

In this workshop, we will look at social networking tools, which are sometimes referred to collectively as “Web 2.0.” These tools are already a common means of communication for young people, and instructors have found innovative ways to exploit their capabilities for second language learning.   Participants will have an opportunity to explore the tools, and we will discuss their potential benefits and challenges.

January 27, 2009:

Multimedia  in Language Teaching Workshop Series

 4:00 - 4:50 pm
 Thursday, January 29, 2009

 The Use of Smartboards in Language Learning

In this session, the Language Media Center's new interactive whiteboard will be demonstrated. Participants will have an opportunity for hands-on practice with this device.

January 20, 2009:

Multimedia  in Language Teaching Workshop Series

Robert Henderson Language Media Center
G 17 Cathedral of Learning
4:00 – 4:50 pm
Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Introduction to SCOLA

The University of Pittsburgh now has a subscription to SCOLA, which receives and re-transmits television programming from around the world in native languages. Programming schedules are available at http://www.scola.org. Instructors may watch SCOLA live via the Internet, or they may download recent video clips for use in class. SCOLA is quite easy to use, but a password is required.

Dr. Elizabeth Wylie-Ernst of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures will offer suggestions for the use of SCOLA in a foreign language class. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore this valuable resource.

January 13, 2009:

Multimedia in Language Teaching Workshop Series
4:00 – 4:50 pm
Thursday, January 15, 2009

Flip video cameras

The Flip video camcorders have proven to be very popular with language classes. Instructors and TAs may borrow them from the Language Media Center as a class set, and individual cameras are also available for checkout.

In the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to try out these small portable devices. We will also discuss ways in which they can be used by language teachers and students.

January 6, 2009:

Multimedia in Language Teaching Workshop Series
Thursday, January 8, 2009
and
Friday, January 9, 2009

How to make digital audio recordings in the Language Media Center

We will review several software options for recording audio files in the PC and Mac labs in the Language Media Center. Participants will practice the simple process of recording a digital sound file. We will also discuss various options for managing student files.

April 2007: Grant Received for UPOLAI Project
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Robert Henderson Language Media Center, University of Pittsburgh
http://www.polyglot.pitt.edu/news/index.html
Last revised: March 30, 2009