A Blended Learning Approach to Promote EFL Journal Writing Kazunori Nozawa Ritsumeikan University, Japan

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)2 Outline _ An Overview of CMS/Moodle _ Blended Learning in an EFL environment (at Kyoto University) _ Motivational Issues on Teaching EFL in Japan _ Research Summary/Conclusion _ Future Plan

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)3 An Overview of CMS/Moodle _ CMS stands for Content/Course Management System. _ A Web application to run on a server located anywhere in the world and accessed by a Web browser. _ It gives educators a tool to create a course Web site and provide access control so only enrolled students can view it.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)4 An Overview of CMS/Moodle _ It provides a wide variety of tools that make a course more effective through: – easy uploading/downloading and sharing files, –holding online discussions/chats, –giving exercise, quizzes and questionnaires, –gather/review assignments, –and recording grades, etc.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)5 Reasons to use a CMS/Moodle _ While face-to-face teaching/learning can still be effective, a lot of research show how effectively combine online learning with it by using those tools. Hybrid coursesBlended Learning

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)6 Reasons to use a CMS/Moodle _ Many teachers can save time while promoting students’ autonomous learning so that students can troubleshoot in classes. _ Online tasks such as forum discussions can make students feel easier to compose questions and answers because of their shyness, uncertainty, and language issues in a face-to-face situation.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)7 Reasons to use a CMS/Moodle _ Students’ demand: Online communication is second nature to many students. _ Students’ schedule: Having part-time jobs and club activities, they need flexible access to courses. _ Better management: Using a CMS/Moodle can make any classes more effective and efficient.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)8 Reasons to use a CMS/Moodle _ Moodle is more mature and much easier to use now with the minimum technical knowledge and skills. _ Moodle is an open source courseware and basically free to use for one’s own purposes and indeed better than expensive commercial ones like WebCT or Blackboard.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)9 Comparison of CMS Features (Cole, 2005)

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)10 What is Blended Learning? _ Blended Leanring is –the combination of multiple approaches to learning. –can be accomplished through the use of ‘blended’ virtual and physical resources. –A typical example: a combination of technology-based materials and face-to-face sessions used together to deliver instruction.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)11 Blended Learning at Kyoto University _ Face-to-face teaching/learning with video-based texts + online learning using Moodle: Academic English at Kyoto University - sumei.ac.jp/kyotou/

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)12 Blended Learning at Kyoto University _ English I (for law majors): –No. of freshmen: 33(32) (Male 24(23); Female 9) –No. of class hours: 90 min x 28 wks (two semesters) –Texts: Morita, A. et al. (2006). BBC Short Clips on DVD, Seibido, Co. Ltd. + Nozawa, T. et al. (2007). 60 minutes: CBS Documentary, Kirihara Shoten, Co. Ltd.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)13 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)14 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)15 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)16 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)17 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)18 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)19 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)20 Blended Learning at Kyoto University _ English I (for Architecture majors): –No. of freshmen: 25 (Male 18; Female 7) –No. of class hours: 90 min x 28 wks (two semesters) –Texts: Stempleski, Susan. (2006). World Link Video Course 2, Thompson ELT + Stempleski, Susan. (2006). World Link 2 Workbook Book, Thompson ELT

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)21 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)22 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)23 Blended Learning at Kyoto University

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)24 Motivational Issues _ English I is a required class and each class is automatically assigned by the English Division for all the freshmen at Kyoto University, but not all of them are well-motivated to learn actively at EFL classes and try harder to improve their EFL skills because of the entrance exam burnout syndrome. _ Students need to experience a different and refreshing learning style (Blended Learning ) from ones that they have previously experienced.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)25 Motivational Issues _ Most of students have acquired the basic computer literacy at their secondary schools and can use it for learning EFL on line effectively at a university. _ Students can collaboratively share their ideas in journal writings with their classmates or small group members or look at others’ writing products more critically.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)26 Research Summary/Conclusion _ Students at Kyoto University in a blended learning style seem to have become interested in the provided contents and have worked harder to accomplish both online and off-line tasks. _ Students’ EFL proficiency level are not the same so that the original journal writings as well as the responding writings vary in qualities and quantities.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)27 Research Summary/Conclusion _ Students’ interests vary according to the topics. As a result, the responding writings are not long enough nor a bit far from an ideal level from the teacher’s view. _ Adopting blended learning to promote learning EFL is, however, still an effective and useful way to give students more writing opportunities in a different learning style with a different kind of motivation.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)28 Future Plan _ These practical and experimental classes at Kyoto University in a blended learning style continues until January 2008 so that the year-end questionnaire will be given to find out the students’ attitude changes and, in particular, usefulness of using a forum writing & discussions with Moodle in learning EFL.

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)29 References _ Blended learning. learntech/blended/index.php  Cole, Jason. (2005). Using Moodle book. _ Gray, Caroline. (2006). Blended Learning: Why Everything Old Is New Again—But Better. _ Valiathan, Purnima. (2002). Blended learning model. html

GloCALL 2007 (Hanoi U, Vietnam)30 For Further Information Prof. Kazunori Nozawa College of Information Science and Engineering, Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga, Japan HP: