Highlights
Team workshop (20-22/Nov/03)
The development team reviewed draft activities of the sample module and agreed
on a learning map of the module, which is serving as a guide for the development
of other modules.
In addition, issues related to the online forum, preparation for the Tsinghua
President’s visit and preparatory work for the UKeU meeting in December
were discussed.
Tsinghua President's visit (25/Nov/03)
President of Tsinghua University, Prof. Gu Binglin and Provost, Prof. Wang Jinsong,
paid a visit to Cambridge on Novermber 25th. The CUTE team presented the project,
reported the results of the needs analysis, and reviewed the instructional design
of the online learning materials. The Tsinghua delegation showed great interest
in the project.
eChina meeting (15-16/Dec/03)
The CUTE team participated in the eChina workshop, hosted by the Language Centre,
Cambridge. It was the first workshop in which all four project team members
participated. The workshop was organized by the eChina Learning Programme Manager,
Dr. Spencer-Oatey and included representatives from every eChina project teams.
The workshop aimed at sharing work in progress, insights into development and
related issues. In the workshop, Prof. Kang Feiyu gave an informative talk about
the future of distance education in China. Anny King and the CUTE team spoke
about the progress of the online materials development.
The evaluation of the CUTE sample module
(13/Jan/04)
Prof. Yang Fang went back to Tsinghua before the end of the semester and met
10 teachers to test the sample module. The sample unit was installed on Tsinghua’s
online platform. The CUTE trainee teachers worked on the sample module for two
hours in the International Language Centre, School of Continuing Education,
Tsinghua University. A questionnaire on both the content and the navigation
of the sample module was conducted. Two more teachers sent their feedback of
the sample units by email.
Feb. 4-6 Project team meeting (4-6/Feb/04)
Sample evaluation
Eleven teachers piloted the sample at Tsinghua University and filled in a questionnaire.
The ratings of the effectiveness and usefulness of the activities were very
encouraging. No activities scored lower than 3.8, 60% of the activities scored
between 4.0 and 4.4 and 30% of the activities scored between 4.6 and 4.9.
The results of the teachers’ feedback informed the developing team about
the level of difficulty of the materials. A few suggestions were made about
the purpose of some activities and the way in which the lectures are structured
and the approach used.
A list of modifications and further developments were agreed upon based on the
trainees’ feedback, a team review of the sample together with feedback
from CUTE Consultant, Professor Candlin, and the eChina Learning Programme Manager,
Dr. Spencer-Oatey.
Research
Professor Candlin gave a seminar relating to possible research questions stemming
from CUTE. He spoke about issues relating to the integration of distinct but
complementary research methodologies, how such complementarities might be achieved
in the context of the analysis of discourse, and how these approaches may be
of relevance to the study of online leaner-learner and learner-tutor interaction
in language education in a cross-cultural context.
Further development
The development team has reviewed drafts for modules 2 & 3, and is currently
working on the other modules. A schedule for further development has been agreed
by the team of content and online developers.
HEFCE project report review
The first HEFCE project report review was sent to HEFCE at the end of February.
It was well received by HEFCE. The project report was also presented to the
Management Committee of the Language Centre, University of Cambridge in March
and was also very well received by the Committee who congratulated the CUTE
team on such good work.
Preliminary discussions on the project (28-31/Jul/03)
The Tsinghua representatives came to meet the Cambridge team and reviewed the
project proposal together. After the 5 days’ visit, the team reaffirmed
the aims of the project and schedules of further development meetings.
Needs analysis and interviews (22-27/Sep/03)
Reading, listening, and writing skills were assessed through an
IELTS test, conducted prior to the visit of the CU team members
to Tsinghua, along with a needs analysis questionnaire. A personalised
written sample was collected from the trainees. Trainees introduced
themselves, explained a little about their discipline and career
goals, and expressed their expectation of what they hoped to achieve
by participating in the pilot (up to 500 words).
Individual trainee interviews and focus group interviews were conducted
and recorded during the CU team’s visit in September. Both
the written samples and individual interviews were scored and evaluated.
Both the individual oral interviews and focus group interviews were
transcribed, informing adequately the syllabus design.
Syllabus design (16-18/Oct/03)
The content writing team met for three days ((16-18th October)
to refine the design of the syllabus following the analysis of the
needs questionnaire and writing samples. This design will be tailored
to suit the participating teachers’ needs and expectations.
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