| PURPOSE:
The E-Language Learning System (ELLS) is a joint research
and development project of the U.S. Department
of Education and the Chinese Ministry of
Education. The purpose of ELLS is to determine the
viability and effectiveness of an Internet-based program of
second language instruction for middle school students through
the integrated use of animation, gaming techniques, and voice
recognition. The ELLS research and development effort supports
a fundamental principle of the No Child Left Behind Act, the
implementation of research-based education programs. At present,
too few education programs and projects, including language-learning
programs, are based on scientific research or independent
evaluation evidence of effectiveness.
ELLS uses the most current research on second language-learning
pedagogy, instructional design, and educational technology
to test ways to provide services to language learners and
promote sound education pedagogy. Our knowledge about how
students learn has improved greatly in recent years, as have
our technological capabilities. Through this project we hope
to use breakthrough technology to take advantage of what research
tells us about how children acquire knowledge. Independent
experts will evaluate the project, both formatively and summatively,
and collect data on whether or not the ELLS approach works
in helping students learn languages more successfully.
EXPERT CONSULTANTS: A technical work group
comprised of experts from universities and the private sector
is working closely with the ELLS contractor, the Department
of Education, and the Ministry of Education on the ELLS project
to assure that it is state-of-the-art research and development.
The working group includes members with expertise in educational
technology, content and instructional design associated with
second language acquisition, and sustaining and disseminating
successful educational programs. This working group reviewed
available research on second language acquisition and determined
that an approach that combines animation, gaming, and voice
recognition has promise in teaching language to children because
it motivates them in ways that other teaching methods do not.
The Department of Education with our partners in China wanted
to test these findings, so we first conducted research on
existing products to see if any combined all of the components.
- The working group wanted to test an approach
that integrates the following elements:
- Pedagogically appropriate instruction
based on the best knowledge from research and practice;
- Authentic communication and practice using
computer simulations to expose students to and immerse them
in language use in real-world situations;
- Speech recognition software that enables
students to participate in real-world communication;
- Animated language-learning that motivates
and teaches students in a gaming environment;
- Assessment tools that provide real-time
feedback to promote continuous learning; and,
- Information that allows students to learn
about the cultures of other parts of the world.
The working group's research, including a conference with
the Center for Applied Linguistics, an expert review of the
literature, and a report from the Harvard Business School,
indicated that an Internet-based second language learning
system for youth that integrated all of these elements was
not available in the marketplace.
EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH: Since no existing
product allowed for testing whether or not integrating proven
strategies would lead to more effective learning, the ELLS
online environment was created to provide a testing ground
for a language-learning approach that integrated all of the
elements listed above. This is consistent with the Department's
goals as laid out in the No Child Left Behind Act, which stresses
research-based education strategies for helping children learn.
We have created, according to experts in the field, a unique
combination of elements that together constitute a highly
effective language-learning approach. Our goal is to provide
sound research that will stimulate the development of applications
that will benefit our nation's children.
CONTRACTORS: To facilitate our research
and development efforts, the U.S. Department of Education
is working with the U.S. Army's Training and Doctrine Command
(TRADOC), a group highly respected for Internet delivery of
training materials. TRADOC competitively selected Northrop
Grumman IT as its prime contractor to provide
online training for the U.S. Army, other military services,
the Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies. Because
the Army is an acknowledged leader in online distance learning,
the Department of Education has entered into an interagency
agreement with TRADOC, consistent with Federal procurement
authorities, and established a delivery order under TRADOC's
contract with Northrop-Grumman. Northrop-Grumman has subcontracted
with Little Planet
Learning for work on the ELLS project. Michigan
State University has agreed to host this project web site.
ELLS TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
The Technical
Work Group is comprised of experts from universities and
the private sector. TWG works with Northrop-Grumman and Little
Planet Learning project to assure that ELLS is based on state-of-the-art
research. The working group includes members with expertise
in educational technology, content and instructional design
associated with second language acquisition, and sustaining
and disseminating successful educational programs.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The literature review
on computer-assisted language learning provides theoretical
background for the ELLS project.
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