News from the LRC
8/26/02

Welcome back everyone. I hope you had a good summer and are ready for this
new academic year.

WELCOMING TWO NEW MEMBERS

- Hajime Kumahata is our new Language Technology Consultant. He has been a
Japanese Senior Lecturer at Baylor University for over 10 years and is
very experienced in language learning technology. We are delighted that he
has accepted to join our team.
You can contact Hajime at langtech@rice.edu or kumahata@rice.edu or x6183.

- Steve Iltis is now working 50% of his time for the LRC. He works with
Eric Granquist on the maintenance, management, and upgrade of the many
servers and computers supported by the LRC. We are very pleased to have
Steve working for LRC and thank Dean Stokes for his efforts in acquiring
the funding necessary for this new position.

- ON-LINE PLACEMENT TESTS
Thanks to a large team effort, the on-line tests were administered
successfully (they will remain on-line until 9/6). Thank you Eric
Granquist for providing outstanding around the clock technical support.
Thank you to the team of instructors who worked hard to create and grade
the tests:
Evelyne Datta, Brigitte Crull, Rick Spuler, Christa Gaug, Hiroko Sato,
Suzana Bloem, Jose Narbonna, Pat Brogdon-Gomez, Robin Martinez and Jane
Verm. Thank you to Henny Halliburton, Jason Bradshaw, Joan Moore and
Hsi-Min Lin for answering all the phone calls and e-mails throughout the
summer.

As of 8/19/02, 3:00 pm we have received the following number of tests:

French: 37
German: 14
Japanese: 5
Portuguese: 1 (pending)
Spanish: 124
Total: 154

During the summer of 2001, the number of students taking the tests was as
follows:
French: 54
German: 13
Spanish: 154
Total:  221

I believe that the drop in number is due in part to the fact that CSL
changed its policy and no longer required students with AP tests results
of 4 or 5 or IB tests of 6 or 7 to take the placement tests.

Note that this year the placement tests included speaking and thus tested
all four language skills for the first time.

LRC LOGIN REQUIRED

As in the past, we ask that all students using any of the LRC software
and/or on-line audio/video material login their time and tasks in the LRC
login web page. This procedure is necessary in order to assist us in
securing the necessary funding to operate the LRC.

http://lang.rice.edu/apps/log/logusage.html

If you would like to check your students' login records, please contact me
so that I can set up your account for you.

LRC ORIENTATIONS
If you are requiring or recommending that your students use any of the LRC
software programs (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~lrc/software/software.html)
or web based programs (ExTemplate, audio/video/films etc), we ask that you
please schedule an orientation so that we can teach your students how to
use all these LRC materials. You can make a reservation at the following
address:

https://lang.rice.edu/apps/reservations/logreserve.html


NEW SOFWARE and HARDWARE THIS  FALL:

- New version of Tell Me More : NEW ACCOUNT SYSTEM. All old accounts have
been deleted. Students must use their first and last name (space in
between) as user name and their ID number preceded with the zero in order
to login.
- New Version of Wimba, not much difference to the user but upgrade was
required.
- Pinyin Master
- New version of Wemlin
- Molinares, Spanish-Spanish dictionary

In addition the LRC has acquired 21 new computers for one of its
classroom. Come and try them out! We are also planning to install a new
server for Cinema (our video server system) during the midsemester recess.
Compaq has had our request on back order since the beginning of June!

If you would like to request that the LRC purchase new DVDs or software
programs, or put on reserve audio/video material to be used for the spring
semester, please submit your multimedia requests at the address below BY
OCTOBER 31.

https://lang.rice.edu/apps/request/


FACULTY DEVELOPMENT LAB:
The Lab is now open again thanks to Hajime. Please feel free to use it or
meet with Hajime as necessary. He is looking forward to meeting as many of
you as possible. The new schedule is posted on the Faculty Development Lab
web site:
 http://lang.rice.edu/development/

Please note that if you would like to use any of the computers in the lab,
you need to make a reservation at the following address:
http://lang.rice.edu/apps/reservations/devreserve.html

Hajime has now put at your disposal new notebook binders with detailed
instructions for all software programs available in each of the 5 computer
stations. This should make it easier for you to experiment with new
programs.

Hajime will be conducting two series of workshops. The mini-workshops
which will be held in the Faculty Development Lab will be announced
shortly. The regular workshops held in the LRC computer classrooms will be
as follow:

Friday 9/13, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM:
The First Step to HTML - Overview of Possible Usage in Language Classrooms

Software: Netscape Composer 6.2x
Summary: We will learn the fundamentals in creating a web page for your
classroom in your language.
Audience: Novice and intermediate users are welcome.

Friday 10/4, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM:
        Improving Students' Speaking Skills in the Target Language

Software: ExTemplate 1.0 and Wimba.
Summary: Wimba allows students to record their voice from anywhere so
that you can check their progress. This workshop will review the basics of
ExTemplate and introduce the use of Wimba.
Audience: novice and intermediate users welcome.

Friday 10/25, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM:
The Second Step to HTML - Expanding the Possibility in Language Classrooms

Software: Dreamweaver 4.0
Summary: Dreamweaver gives us more power in creating and editing a web
page.
Users: Intermediate and advanced users welcome

Friday 11/15, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM:
        Improving Students' Listening Skills in Target Languages

Software: ExTemplate 2.0 (formally known as Placement Test)
Summary: With ExTemplate 2.0, we can now combine different types of
questions, i.e. multiple-choice and fill in the blank, in one listening
exercise. Learn how to use this new tool to design quizzes, midterms, and
final exams.

Please e-mail Hajime if you plan to attend any of these workshops.

We look forward to another successful semester with CSL members.