Abstract:

Well grounded theoretical motivation for technological innovations should always lead CALL courseware development. Second language acquisition theories and practices, instructional design concepts, human factors research, and advances in educational technology can be relevant. However, the how-to aspects of courseware development, especially for the most popular star- multimedia, become immediate considerations and concerns once one chooses the platform on which to proceed. This paper addresses these practical aspects through the exploration of the development of a piece of English as a foreign language (EFL) interactive videodisc (IVD) courseware. The objective setting, instructional design, and on-line implementation are explained in detail. Subprocesses include data collection and analyses, content analysis, and screen design. About 95% of the courseware has been implemented and is ready for pilot testing. It consists of four units: an Introduction, Hyperscript, Film Viewing, and Film Viewing with Instruction. Hyperscript is a design using a hypertext format, while Film Viewing is designed with various kinds of on-line help. Film Viewing with Instruction is a module with a great deal of program control. Lastly, linkage to the language classroom, evaluation approaches, implications, and recommendations for future courseware development are discussed.

Author: Hsien-Chin Liou