Questions for the Subgroups

I. Content and Pedagogy

Goal: Teach reading, writing, listening, speaking

· How can the content be designed to align with the Chinese and English language learning standards?
· How can you connect the national curriculum with the ELLS and classroom instruction (Can be done, but   not now)
· What is the appropriate instructional balance among traditional learning, virtual learning   (games/simulations) and project-based learning?
· Are the curricular goals reasonable (400-600 hours of learning to reach mastery at the novice high,   American Council of Teachers of Foreign Language and level two of the Chinese National English   Curriculum, Ministry of Education)?
· How can we design the system so that it can be used both as the core instructional language program or   a supplemental resource for the teacher?

Goal: Access and develop appropriate content
· To what extent can we select from existing content?
· How do we resolve copyright issues?
· Are the conditions (authentic materials, communication opportunities, feedback, individualization) for   effective language learning listed consistent with current research?

Goal: Translate the technology to teach language and content
· What are effective language-learning activities that can be translated into a virtual learning (game)   approach for speaking, listening, writing and reading? Can current technology support these activities?
· How can we apply the technology to create authentic-learning assessments that adequately test oral as   well as written communication?

II. System Design and Development

Goal: Develop the software
· Is the summary of the capabilities and limits of the technologies accurate? (i.e., speech-to-text, speech   recognition, computer-mediated communication, web technologies, video and audio technologies,   machine translation, simulation and animation, and language processing technologies)?
· What kinds of technology applications can we afford?
· What are the roles of on-line mentors and on-site teaching personnel and how are their roles integrated   into the ELLS?

Goal: Develop the platform
· How do we integrate the four functions of the ELLS (delivery, communication, feedback and   management) into a virtual learning (game) environment?
· How do we accommodate different bandwidths in one system?
· What browser should the system be built for?
· How do we ensure that the Chinese and American efforts develop a single compatible ELLS platform?

Goal: Evaluate the System
· How do we build in an effective system of pilot (Beta) testing to ensure that the components work as   designed?
· What formative and summative evaluation designs are appropriate for this project to ensure the   effectiveness of the ELLS in delivery instruction and improving learning?

III. Sustainability and Dissemination

Goal: Test the system
· How do we find and select pilot sites to test the system?

Goal: Implement the system
· How do we market the system, especially to professional teacher organizations (i.e., how do we clearly   and simply describe the goals, features, and accessibility of the ELLS)?
· How do we disseminate the system to our intended users (schools, teachers, ad students)?
· What is necessary for schools or individuals to take advantage of the system?

Goal: Sustain the system
· How do we involve the corporate sector that has expressed interest in the system?
· How can business or other private sector entities be involved in this (e.g., how can a business pick up   the prototype and refine it)?
· How do we move the prototype to other language and other countries?
· How can we ensure effective, on-going analytic activities among our experts to improve our ability to   deliver a quality ELLS (e.g., joint website, research papers, etc)?