A Web-based Multi-lingual Teaching and Learning Method for Engineering Prof. Eric Cheng Department of Electrical Engineering The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

The Software The web program gives many different functions The web program gives many different functions Easily to operate Easily to operate No need to have previous experience in html or web programming No need to have previous experience in html or web programming

Features Improve language skill of engineering students Improve language skill of engineering students Provide engineering functions for study Provide engineering functions for study Provide multilingual language translation Provide multilingual language translation Implemented with pronunciation Implemented with pronunciation General exercises for practice General exercises for practice Web-based lecture notes Web-based lecture notes Student and lecturer’s account management Student and lecturer’s account management

Basic teaching

Animation Switched reluctance motor

Advancing teaching To give more interesting features To give more interesting features Webinar = Web seminar Webinar = Web seminar Remote control experiment = virtual laboratory Remote control experiment = virtual laboratory

Webminar Give video Give video With audio broadcasting With audio broadcasting Give power point Give power point Give lecture Give lecture Can review any time Can review any time

Remote control experiment Virtual Laboratory Virtual Laboratory Not simulation Not simulation Control using GPIB to equipment Control using GPIB to equipment Waveforms can be sent back to users Waveforms can be sent back to users Adjust the electrical connection Adjust the electrical connection Change experiment Change experiment Based on LabView Based on LabView

Remote control setup

Translator Although many translation software packages exist around the world, many of them are over several tens MB - it may not be possible to download easily. Although many translation software packages exist around the world, many of them are over several tens MB - it may not be possible to download easily. Although many web sites providing translation engine, it is inconvenient for use. Although many web sites providing translation engine, it is inconvenient for use. Existing packages: General in English, not for Engineering Existing packages: General in English, not for Engineering

Browser Enhancement System (A Web translator) Plug-in program of Internet Explorer (IE) Plug-in program of Internet Explorer (IE) Provide a text-to-text presentation Provide a text-to-text presentation And text-to-speech presentation of selected text under the IE. And text-to-speech presentation of selected text under the IE.

The Web translator Client-server program. Client-server program.Advantage Reduces the size of the software package in the client side. Reduces the size of the software package in the client side. Provides a shorter time when downloading the software package ‘BES’. Provides a shorter time when downloading the software package ‘BES’. And now over 60,000 words stored in the database. And now over 60,000 words stored in the database.

Function The WTS program provide 8 functions The WTS program provide 8 functions Chinese Translation Chinese Translation Explanation in English Explanation in English Explanation in Chinese Explanation in Chinese Sample Usage in English Sample Usage in English Sample Usage in Chinese Sample Usage in Chinese Pronunciation in English Pronunciation in English Pronunciation in Cantonese Pronunciation in Cantonese Pronunciation in Mandarin Pronunciation in Mandarin

Use of Web Translator User should be high- lighted a word in advance menu by right- clicking the mouse under IE. User should be high- lighted a word in advance menu by right- clicking the mouse under IE. Select one of the functions of the advance right-click menu. Select one of the functions of the advance right-click menu. The result of the word is given immediately by popping up a dialog box or speech by speaker. The result of the word is given immediately by popping up a dialog box or speech by speaker.

Demonstration of Web translator

Summary of translation package Minimize the size of the translation software package. Minimize the size of the translation software package. Database stored in the server can be updated easily and efficiently. Database stored in the server can be updated easily and efficiently. Multi-language pronunciations are provided. Multi-language pronunciations are provided.

Other Available Tools EssayToLink EssayToLink to creating dynamic web page from simple text input. to creating dynamic web page from simple text input. Glossary Input Page Glossary Input Page to help teachers to create and manage glossary. to help teachers to create and manage glossary. HTML producer HTML producer To help inexperienced teachers to develop web pages. To help inexperienced teachers to develop web pages.

EssayToLink Implemented using a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) on the server side. Implemented using a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) on the server side. First, the User (Student) inputs an essay to input area; then, the essay content will be sent to the server. First, the User (Student) inputs an essay to input area; then, the essay content will be sent to the server. The essay will then be broken down into words and check against a database for predefined links. The essay will then be broken down into words and check against a database for predefined links. If a match was found, an html code segment will be generated to create a link for the given word. If a match was found, an html code segment will be generated to create a link for the given word.

EssayToLink: Input This is input area for users to copy and paste essays. This is input area for users to copy and paste essays. A CGI program be executed when the essay was sent to the server. A CGI program be executed when the essay was sent to the server.

EssayToLink: Output

Demonstration

Demonstration On-line Translation

Glossary Input Page Concise common definition of technical and other terms can be entered by teachers Concise common definition of technical and other terms can be entered by teachers Glossary input page is an interface for teachers to input the details of a technical term or jargon. Glossary input page is an interface for teachers to input the details of a technical term or jargon. Students can easily lookup and have better understanding on the given term or jargon. Students can easily lookup and have better understanding on the given term or jargon. Teachers are allowed to add, change and delete glossary items without altering the page layout once the web page was created. Teachers are allowed to add, change and delete glossary items without altering the page layout once the web page was created.

Glossary Easy to input Easy to input Coherence to a subject Coherence to a subject With meaning in Chinese and English With meaning in Chinese and English

HTML Producer HTML Producer can help inexperience teachers to develop web pages. HTML Producer can help inexperience teachers to develop web pages. It provides standard templates for web page with consistent look and feel. It provides standard templates for web page with consistent look and feel.

HTML Producer: Software approach The HTML Producer is implemented using PHP. The HTML Producer is implemented using PHP. Three standard templates are currently available for users (teachers) to choose from. Three standard templates are currently available for users (teachers) to choose from. Each user will have his/her own login account and development environment. Each user will have his/her own login account and development environment. Search engine is provided to automatically insert links from the search database. Large items such as photos can be uploaded via ftp service. Search engine is provided to automatically insert links from the search database. Large items such as photos can be uploaded via ftp service.

Summary of these functions A set of WWW-based tools was developed to facilitate efficient web teaching and learning. A set of WWW-based tools was developed to facilitate efficient web teaching and learning. In the future, more teaching material will be converted to the EssayToLink format. In the future, more teaching material will be converted to the EssayToLink format. The Html producer only provides basic facilities for creating web page. Both the user-friendliness and functionality needs to be improved. The Html producer only provides basic facilities for creating web page. Both the user-friendliness and functionality needs to be improved. Initial trials show both students and teachers find the tools useful and would like to be incorporated in all web teaching and learning materials if possible. Initial trials show both students and teachers find the tools useful and would like to be incorporated in all web teaching and learning materials if possible.

Audio Voice Page Voice Page to help students on English pronunciation to help students on English pronunciation Audio form of Web Audio form of Web

Voice Page Voice page implements a mouth within a browser. Voice page implements a mouth within a browser. It uses the Microsoft Speech Engine to help students to visualize the mouth movements needed for speaking English correctly. It uses the Microsoft Speech Engine to help students to visualize the mouth movements needed for speaking English correctly.

Audio form of Web Allow the text can be converted to video form Allow the text can be converted to video form Good pronunciation and intonation Good pronunciation and intonation Alternative method to read (listen) a web page Alternative method to read (listen) a web page Blind person Blind person

Other Tools Graph Plotting Graph Plotting Authentic writing Authentic writing News News HTML converter HTML converter Pronunciation training Pronunciation training File management & Administration File management & Administration

Graph plotting Engineering tool for plotting independent equation Engineering tool for plotting independent equation No need to open a second windows No need to open a second windows

Authentic Writing Give different examples for reference Give different examples for reference Engineering writing Examples Engineering writing Examples

Authentic Writing Also give a popular format of the authentic writing Also give a popular format of the authentic writing Users can base on the format to practise writing Users can base on the format to practise writing

HTML converter Convert MSWord to HTML 4.0 Convert MSWord to HTML 4.0 Can ensure the output agree with your format Can ensure the output agree with your format Can adjust the output through a style control Can adjust the output through a style control

Pronunciation training Compare your voice with a standard Compare your voice with a standard You can listen and do training You can listen and do training The voice waveform is also displayed for detailed comparison. The voice waveform is also displayed for detailed comparison.

Administration File management File management News broadcast News broadcast Send Message to students Send Message to students Search engine Search engine

Our exercise Web sites

The Grammar Section Explanation of grammar rules Explanation of grammar rules Grammar exercises Grammar exercises Java-based exercises Java-based exercises True/False True/False Multiple Choices Multiple Choices Fill in the Blanks Fill in the Blanks Entry of exercise through database Access Entry of exercise through database Access HTML-based exercises HTML-based exercises Sentence Correction/Restructuring Sentence Correction/Restructuring

Content page of exercises

Looking at Grammar Rules Explanation for voices Explanation for voices

Java-based Exercises Programmed by Java & MS Access Programmed by Java & MS Access Codes written in Java Server Pages (JSP) Codes written in Java Server Pages (JSP) Databases created by Paradox Databases created by Paradox Questions and feedback are stored in Questions and feedback are stored in Two formats Two formats Typical Format (any questions in a page) Typical Format (any questions in a page) Random format Random format

Java-based Exercises True/False exercises True/False exercises State whether the statements are correct (True) or not (False) State whether the statements are correct (True) or not (False)

Java-based Exercises Multiple Choices exercises Multiple Choices exercises Indicate the correct answer from 4 options Indicate the correct answer from 4 options

Java-based Exercises Fill in the Blanks exercises Fill in the Blanks exercises Put the missing word in the box Put the missing word in the box

HTML-based Exercises Sentence Correction/Restructuring Sentence Correction/Restructuring Correct or reconstruct (rewrite) the sentences Correct or reconstruct (rewrite) the sentences

Checking result The result of your tests can be submiited and the score can be obtained directly The result of your tests can be submiited and the score can be obtained directly An explanation will also be popped up An explanation will also be popped up

Update the exercise The exercise can be updated easily The exercise can be updated easily Both question, answer and explanation can be edited online Both question, answer and explanation can be edited online

Update the exercise Edit the question, choices and explanation in their field Edit the question, choices and explanation in their field Submit to the database Submit to the database

Demonstration: Exercises

Demonstration: Editing Exercises

Applications to teachings

Summary of the Exercise Package Analyzed the general error mistake for students Analyzed the general error mistake for students Developed a series of web-based exercise for students to practise Developed a series of web-based exercise for students to practise Applied to tests and general teaching Applied to tests and general teaching

Other tools Discussion/News group Discussion/News group Message Message Spelling check Spelling check

Demonstration for discussion Group

Conclusion A generalized web-based package for teaching and learning has developed A generalized web-based package for teaching and learning has developed Provide, more than 60,000 words of database in 2 languages (3 dialects). Provide, more than 60,000 words of database in 2 languages (3 dialects). Integrated with web-teaching Integrated with web-teaching Has found very useful for both teachers and students Has found very useful for both teachers and students

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