Current projects

I am currently working on 3 projects:

Firstly, producing IELTS resources - for teaching speaking skills to students, for training speaking examiners and creating new genres for reading and writing materials.

Secondly, producing full lecture videos with course content lecturers in other faculties outside ELT. These could help us create better preparation programs also, when we understand more fully the dynamics of a spoken lecture.

Thirdly, student attitudes to using video resources. I should finish this one in early 2005 - and it basically consists of classes using av maerials of varying kinds and writing about which were "good" or not. This project is to generate more grounded variables for later research, as my own presumptions about what is important in design may not match what students think is important in design. eg I thought students would be turned off by long intro bookends with sound and titles, however they initially appear much more concerned with the content of the videoclip itself, relating to their study and iterests. More later.

A recent project just finished, was looking at screen design, teacher training needs and how students see video study in comparison to studying with teachers, classrooms, whiteboards, books and other more traditional modes. Initials results indicated they associate video more with fun thatn with learning at first, and that the teacher's role is paramount in their opinion. The full presentation will be given at TESOL Arabia in March 2005.

Long term needs (collaborate with us?)

If you are interested in researching the use of audio visual materials with classes, particulary ELT or EAP classes, please let us know. Our long term future aims include:

How to incorporate av resources into Higher Education EAP programs? This will look at IT needs, staff training, student orientation, use with Independent Learning Centres, staff and student, as well as management attitudes.

Effective resource design for teaching and learning. How to make resources suitable, attractive and effective - both for teacher use, and for students. This includes genre construction (as the genres are all new to education and ELT), screen design (how to use animations, visual tools like the IELTS meter on the IELTS videos, and delivery modes eg streaming over the net, using CDs or DVDs