Institute for the Study of American Language and Culture,(ISALC)
Lewis & Clark College
TESOL 2000, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Perspectives on CALL
for Project-Based Learning:
Intensive English Programs

Michael Krauss, Lewis & Clark College

http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/tesol2000web/tesol2000proj.html

Projects

• Culture Capsules is a project which culminates in multimedia Web pages, produced by pairs of students, who have completed on-line research on a person, place, or process from their respective countries. Students first write about the chosen topic from their country, then work together to jointly write about cultural similarities and differences between their topics, based on their research and collaboration. This project is offered to intermediate level students as part of a Computer Applications course and its main goals are to encourage collaboration and intercultural understanding as well as to teach students how to use computers to conduct research and to develop Web pages. http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/ortesol98/home.html
  
  
• Campus Visits is a project in which students learn about a campus department of their choice by interviewing personnel within that department. During the interview, students take notes and photos, which are incorporated into PowerPoint® presentations, and used as visual aids to support oral reports presented to the class. A Web page containing links to the PowerPoint® presentations not only provides samples for students who are embarking on the project, but also serves as a guide to campus resources for incoming ISALC students. This project is offered to intermediate level students as part of a Communications Skills course and its main goals are to help students develop the awareness and skills needed to access and make use of campus resources, and to effectively present what they have learned, using technology to assist them. http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/campusvisits/home.html
  
  
• Community Connections is a new project designed to bring students together with their host families (Friendship Families) for work days at local community service agencies. While completing this volunteer work, students will conduct interviews, take photos and, afterwards, write up their experiences. A Web page, to be maintained by the ISALC ESL/Community Outreach Intern, will serve as a record of the service visits and will publicize the work done by students and their Friendship Families. The main goals of the project are to provide a meaningful context in which to develop students' language skills, while strengthening ties with their Friendship Families and the Portland community. This project will be one component of an intermediate-level Communications Skills course, focusing on volunteerism and service-learning, which will be implemented this summer. http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/connectionsweb/home.html

 
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Selected Resources

Project-Based Learning

• Challenge 2000 Project-Based Learning with Multimedia - (Silicon Valley Network and San Mateo County Office of Education) Very comprehensive and practical. PBL+MM page includes rationales for PBL, assessment of projects and student work, steps for planning and implementing projects, questions for student reflection and more.
  NOTE: There is a Project-Based Learning Web Ring, which includes a small number of high quality web sites that focus on aspects of PBL. You can access the Web Ring at the bottom of the Challenge 2000 page at http://pblmm.k12.ca.us/index.html
  
  
• Project-Based Learning: What is it? (WWW4teachers) - Includes age-appropriate, customizable, project checklists for written reports, multimedia projects, and oral presentations. Also very interesting materials on "Using Multiple Intelligences." http://www.4teachers.org/index.shtml
  
  
• Virtual Architecture: Designing and Directing Curriculum-Based Telecomputing (Judi Harris) - This author's approach to integrating computer-mediated technology using "activity structures" is consistent with PBL. Site includes pedagogical foundation as well as examples of activity structures (classified into interpersonal exchange, information collection, and analysis and problem solving). There is also an index to projects and resources. http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~jbharris/Virtual-Architecture/index.html

   

  Volunteerism and Service-Learning

• National Service Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC) - Comprehensive, focuses on all dimensions of service-learning. Covers school-based (K-Higher Ed.) as well as community-based initiatives. http://www.nicsl.coled.umn.edu/
  
  
• American Association of Community Colleges Service Learning (AACC) - Designed to strengthen the service-learning infrastructure among community colleges, including the training of faculty to develop effective service-learning opportunities. Site includes an up-to-date service-learning bibliography. http://www.aacc.nche.edu/initiatives/SERVICE/SERVICE.HTM
  
  
• CARES - Described by its authors as "a comprehensive course designed to enable teachers to implement community service learning projects, which will connect their students to each other and their communities, while they master important academic skills." CARES is an acronym for Community, Activities, Resources, Environment, and Service and is a ThinkQuest for Tomorrow's Teachers project. The Resources section contains links to over 100 service-learning sites. http://library.thinkquest.org/50017/

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Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 3/8/00