Clive Shepherd is a UK e-learning consultant who writes a great blog. He has 30 years experience in the field and I find his insights engaging and readable - recommended.
Yesterday, he did a short review if ChinesePod. I was delighted to see his expert observations. Unfortunately, Blogspot is blocked in China, so I couldn’t leave a reply over there, but here’s an interesting paragraph that I’d like to comment on:
There’s an opportunity here to learn some more about what really works in online language learning. I’d like to know how successful subscribers are in achieving their goals with the free service and the various grades of paid service. Are podcasts enough? Does the visual/written element matter? Do the games and exercises aid learning? How valuable is the human element? Perhaps ChinesePod could let us know.
To me, the answer to most of these questions is ‘yes’. I see learning as multi-deimensional and subjective. You couldn’t learn a language entirely through one channel (like a podcast alone). What works is a combination of channels to add depth and dimension to the learning experience: discussions, games, visuals, exercises, vocab work, etc. More engagement with more channels means more learning as each channel mobilizes different cognitive functions, as well as the emotional domain. (Of course, the elements have to be integrated.) The particular constellation of elements, then, depends on individual preference, but in the end it’s all about cognitive depth. I dare say it’s best to let the learner to choose to learn on his own terms.
As for the ‘human element’, I think that’s the subject of a whole ‘nother discussion.
Ken Carroll
中文 Chinese
AuntySue Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Nice blog, clever guy, and nice article about cpod.
Sorry to change the subject slightly, but in his next posting, where he talks about teaching himself some new computer skills, he might answer one of our cpod riddles:
Given a lot of choice, freedom, great materials, and learning on your own terms, why do some students still crave more rigid course elements?
Clive describes his blanket adoption of some lesson materials primarily in book form, and goes on to explain…
“Normally I prefer to have complete control over what I learn, when and how. Yet here I am submitting myself to a rigid structure imposed by Adobe’s authors. Why? Because in using Illustrator I am a complete novice. In this context I have no metacognitive skills - I have no idea what I don’t know. Just like when I first went to school, I am only too happy to relinquish all control and do exactly what I’m told.”
So even a seasoned self-directed learner who has not studied an Asian language before, might find themselves in a similar situation. How long it lasts will be related to how quickly they gain confidence. That in turn is a factor of individual personality, learning experiences, and JIT access to demystifiers. (Of course the special introductory first week set helps to orient new people here more quickly now.)
Am I perhaps stretching this too far, clutching at anything that looks like an explanation? Or can it be that simple?
AuntySue Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I liked your response, Ken. as for the human element, part of that is getting to practise with someone, which is an optional extra, and the other part of that is just plain old human interaction. We students can interact with each other online, and get to know our teachers “out of school” on the Saturday Show.
Ken Carroll Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
AuntySue,
Your point (and Clive’s point) about relinquishing control is very relevant. You can’t just step into a whole new domain of learning and know intuitively what to do, whether that be ChinesePod, an Adobe product, whatever. At those first stages you’re a novice and you simply have to learn the ropes. (That doesn’t always work, however - it didn’t happen with Henning’s sister, for example, who took a look and decide it wasn’t for her.)
We’ve thought about this a lot. There are 2 ways to deal with it around here:
1. ‘Community’, in the sense of a community of practice. The old hands in the community help bring the newcomers from the periphery, to the center, at which point they are familiar with the values and especially the practices of the community. The fact that we have such a friendly and positive community culture is of tremendous help here.
2. Default settings that guides you through your first days. (You learn the personalization features as you proceed.) We already have some of these - pre-populated lesson when you sign up, for example, and Hank is busy working on some other really cool ways to do this type of thing. The mobile features will also display something of this approach.
Both scenarios look like an apprenticeship model - you enter, and you learn by doing and by communicating with people who already know.
Ken Carroll
f1b1 Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Sometime you just don’t know what it is you want to know or need to know, you just know you want to know it.
Phoebe
Betty Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
This blog has been the source of some amazing new ideas for me. Now I’ve just learned about Clive Shepherd’s blog and I see a whole new set of ideas opening up. Learning about learning is cool.
Thank you so much. ChinesePod is the best.
James Theron Says:
June 14th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
I posted a comment over there, so this is just a repeat.
I started listening to the podcasts for about a year and a half now. For a year I was a basic (transcript only) subscriber, and am now checking out the practice service. Like many users, I also take a regular university course, so CPod is not my main learning source. I’m just trying the practice plan during the summer break.
Are podcasts enough? The lessons are enough. A little every day works wonders.
Does the visual/written element matter? To me it does. I could not do this without also becoming literate.
Do the games and exercises aid learning? I tried these out on a few free trial subsciptions and didn’t get too much out of the exercises and games. The transcripts are an absolute must have.
How valuable is the human element? The community that has built up around CPod has been amazing. This is what really separates CPod from the rest. I started the practice plan a couple weeks ago and it’s really good. For me, it works best to practice with someone who is familiar with your lessons. Now this is just what CPod offers in their practice plan.