1. 2007.08.18 Weihai, China WANG Shudong & Neil Heffernan Hiroshima Shudo University Japan A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education: Is China Catching Up?

2.  Research Purpose –Delineate the current states of online education in China and Japan –Discover the gap between the two countries in terms of online language education. –Propose possible remedies  Research Purpose –Delineate the current states of online education in China and Japan –Discover the gap between the two countries in terms of online language education. –Propose possible remedies  A Compartive Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

3.  Presentation outlines –A comparison of the two governments’ policies toward online education. –Online LMS & CMS for language study –Mobile online education  Presentation outlines –A comparison of the two governments’ policies toward online education. –Online LMS & CMS for language study –Mobile online education  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

4.  Japanese Government polices and strategies toward online education – E-Japan (2001-2005) – U-Japan (2006-2010) - 2006, Improvement of ICT Efficacy in Education (OCW, LMS, CMS) the Actual Effect of the above Strategies  Japanese Government polices and strategies toward online education – E-Japan (2001-2005) – U-Japan (2006-2010) - 2006, Improvement of ICT Efficacy in Education (OCW, LMS, CMS) the Actual Effect of the above Strategies  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

5.  E-Japan (2001-2005) –“E-Japan Strategy” aimed at making Japan the world’s most advanced country in IT infrastructure within 5 years. - The Japanese parliament passed relevant laws to ensure the enforcement of this plan.  E-Japan (2001-2005) –“E-Japan Strategy” aimed at making Japan the world’s most advanced country in IT infrastructure within 5 years. - The Japanese parliament passed relevant laws to ensure the enforcement of this plan.  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

6.  E-Japan (2001-2005) –IT Strategy Headquarters （ IT 戦略本部） –Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology ( 文部科学省） –Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications （総務省） –The Japanese parliament.  E-Japan (2001-2005) –IT Strategy Headquarters （ IT 戦略本部） –Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology ( 文部科学省） –Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications （総務省） –The Japanese parliament.  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

7.  U-Japan - The “u” represents “ubiquitous”, “universal,” “user oriented,” and “unique.” The plan focuses o n “easy connection and to networks and convenient learning anytime, anywhere, by anything and anyone”  U-Japan - The “u” represents “ubiquitous”, “universal,” “user oriented,” and “unique.” The plan focuses o n “easy connection and to networks and convenient learning anytime, anywhere, by anything and anyone”  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

8.  Current situation and future goal of online education hardware in Japan  Current situation and future goal of online education hardware in Japan  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan ItemsCurrent situation (2006.3) Goal Ratio of high-speed Internet connection 97.8%100% Campus LAN75.5%100% Numbers of PCs1PC/5.7 students1PC/3.6 student s Ratio of teachers who are ca pable of using computes for teaching 67.3%100%

9. Chinese Government polices and strategies toward online education  Action Plan for China Education Development toward the 21st Century (1999)  The Project of New Century Educational Reform  The Project of Modern Distance Education  National Pilot Curriculum Sharing Project (2003-2007) Chinese Government polices and strategies toward online education  Action Plan for China Education Development toward the 21st Century (1999)  The Project of New Century Educational Reform  The Project of Modern Distance Education  National Pilot Curriculum Sharing Project (2003-2007)  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

10. 2007 e-readiness rank  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

11.  The gap of IT infrastructure between Japan China 2007 IT Competitiveness Rank No1: US, No2: Japan, China 49 Both US and Japan have the world best IT infrastructures protection of instinctual property  The gap of IT infrastructure between Japan China 2007 IT Competitiveness Rank No1: US, No2: Japan, China 49 Both US and Japan have the world best IT infrastructures protection of instinctual property  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

12.  The gap of LMS usage - Introduction to Moodle - LMS/CMS usage in both countries  The gap of LMS usage - Introduction to Moodle - LMS/CMS usage in both countries  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

13.  Moodle - Moodle is a free open source Learning Source Software which is wildly popular with language teachers. People can freel y download Moodle and use it on any computer with any OS. This LMS is designed to help educators create online c ourses with opportunities for rich interaction (Moodle, 2007) -As Moodle is free, it has the ability to cross platforms, is easy to use, and is only gaining in popularity. Currently Moodle has 11,603,849 users in 182 countries as of July,July 2007  Moodle - Moodle is a free open source Learning Source Software which is wildly popular with language teachers. People can freel y download Moodle and use it on any computer with any OS. This LMS is designed to help educators create online c ourses with opportunities for rich interaction (Moodle, 2007) -As Moodle is free, it has the ability to cross platforms, is easy to use, and is only gaining in popularity. Currently Moodle has 11,603,849 users in 182 countries as of July,July 2007  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

14.  The Gap of Using Moodle On the Internet there are over 150 registered Moodle sites for language study in Japan while mainland China has only ab out 20 (of total 246), some of which have started to disappear.  The Gap of Using Moodle On the Internet there are over 150 registered Moodle sites for language study in Japan while mainland China has only ab out 20 (of total 246), some of which have started to disappear.  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

15.  Mobile Online Education -Mobile online education is bound to become the next most popu lar learning environment and the main means of u-learning, meaning that education can happen anytime, anywhere.  Mobile Online Education -Mobile online education is bound to become the next most popu lar learning environment and the main means of u-learning, meaning that education can happen anytime, anywhere.  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

16.  Mobile Online Education -Mobile users: Japan: as of January 2007, contracts with mobile phone companies exceeded 95,315,200, which is roughly 78.5% of J apan’s total population. 100% of college students hold mobile phones or one or two other handy electronic devices. China: China has the most mobile phones users in the world, 70% of mobile phones do not have the capability to con nect to the Internet (17 million WAP users via 130 million mobile phone holders) (CNNIC, 2007). Only SMS (short message service) is universally available in China.  Mobile Online Education -Mobile users: Japan: as of January 2007, contracts with mobile phone companies exceeded 95,315,200, which is roughly 78.5% of J apan’s total population. 100% of college students hold mobile phones or one or two other handy electronic devices. China: China has the most mobile phones users in the world, 70% of mobile phones do not have the capability to con nect to the Internet (17 million WAP users via 130 million mobile phone holders) (CNNIC, 2007). Only SMS (short message service) is universally available in China.  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

17.  Mobile Online Education – Infrastructure Gap Japan: had completely entered 3G in 2004, cheap. Internet bro wsing, emails are available. China: Just started entered 3G generation, emails from to PC are not universal, expensive  Mobile Online Education – Infrastructure Gap Japan: had completely entered 3G in 2004, cheap. Internet bro wsing, emails are available. China: Just started entered 3G generation, emails from to PC are not universal, expensive  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

18.  Mobile Online Language learning Education, Japan -Wireless LAN is being built and enhanced on university campuses. U-learning has become an pervasive concepts in educational institutions and among learners. - Mobile oriented language learning is being carried out in many u niversities. - Proof: QR Code  Mobile Online Language learning Education, Japan -Wireless LAN is being built and enhanced on university campuses. U-learning has become an pervasive concepts in educational institutions and among learners. - Mobile oriented language learning is being carried out in many u niversities. - Proof: QR Code  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

19.  Mobile Online Language learning Education -China -Mobile language learning has not been fully exploited in China. - University homepages/LMS platforms are not mobile oriented. - Proof: QR Code and mobile phone oriented sites are very few.  Mobile Online Language learning Education -China -Mobile language learning has not been fully exploited in China. - University homepages/LMS platforms are not mobile oriented. - Proof: QR Code and mobile phone oriented sites are very few.  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan

20.  Mobile Online Language learning Education -Experiment  Mobile Online Language learning Education -Experiment  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan Figure : Among 30 randomly selected university website, 13 have mobile phones oriented

21.  Mobile Online Language learning Education -Experiment  Mobile Online Language learning Education -Experiment  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan Figure 3 Among 30 randomly selected university websites, none have mobile phones oriented pages

22.  Conclusion  Conclusion  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan 1. Chinese online education has fallen behind are due to the sluggish government polices, a lack of close collaboration between governmental departments, 2. Teachers’ motivation of using LMS. 3.Mobile foreign language education has not yet officially been launched in China. Some of the main disadvantages in this regard include a lack of human resources engaged in online education, and government polices toward online education are bereft of detail. However, because of this slow start, online education in China is sure to become more and more developed in the coming years.

23.  Thank you for your attention.  Thank you for your attention.  A Comparative Research On Foreign Language Education Wang & Heffernan @ Hiroshima Shudo University, Japan