Tools

CALPER has implemented discussion-type tools and course management solutions for use with L2 (and other) learning environments. These tools have either been created or modified to perform with two critical features: (1) Unicode-encoding (UTF-8) and (2) MySQL database backend.

These features combine to support multi-lingual dialogue (e.g., displaying Chinese, English and Russian characters) within the same webpage (or document), and also to support the use of a "global" query to search or analyze texts across the use of all three tools simultaneously (e.g., comparing the frequency of certain Chinese/English juxtapositions appearing inuse across the different tools). In addition, all of our tools are coded using PHP*, which combined with the MySQL backend support provides tools that are fully scalable and cost-effective to meet local and national hosting endeavors.

Each of the CALPER tools can be used to support particular communicative purposes in FL learning environments that have differing constraints and affordances.

• L*Moodle:
  CALPER's Moodle installation provides language educators with a complete unicode-based course management system; and includes intra-course tools such as chat, forums, blogs and wikis (all password protected and available only to course participants).
  
  
• L*Wiki:
  A Wiki is a collaborative environment where members (and frequently anyone accessing the Wiki site) can edit the pages they read. Typically, authored content is not attributed to particular individuals, but rather to a group effort to produce a text. L*Wiki is an open, multi-lingual Wiki which functions as a resource for multi-lingual computing issues; primarily those that can be addressed with an open-source or freeware solution.
  
  
• L*Blog:
  A weblog is a collection of posts ordered by date, typically authored by individuals who retain ownership over their writings. While some "blogs" have many authors and function similarly to an online newspaper, many others have a singular author and function more like an online journal. CALPER's L*Blog is a model of multi-lingual blogging.
  
  
• L*Chat:
  A chatroom is a place for group or private synchronous text-based messaging. Messages are archived for the chatroom administrator, but are not archived for the public. L*Chat is a beta-version of an on-line chat tool that CALPER is employing. It is Flash-based, and requires the Flash plugin for your web browser. We are currently testing this tool, and invite you to assist with our testing.
  
  

As a service to the profession, CALPER offers support in the use and implementation of any of these tools to language educators who are interested in using them in their foreign language instruction.

Currently, CALPER is hosting several of these areas for university-level German students, high school level Spanish students and Intensive English Communication Program students.

If you are interested in having CALPER host your Wiki/Blogs/Chats/Moodle, please contact CALPER at: calper@psu.edu.

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* The chat program we are currently using runs on Flash architecture.