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Authoring tools: a comparative study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2008

Sandy Tippett
Affiliation:
University of Dundee

Abstract

This article will demonstrate the methodology behind the way in which two quite different tools were used to complement each other. By using a variety of authentic source materials, and carefully integrating this material into a second year French course, the authors believe they have provided a rich source of material which other universities might well be able to exploit. The article will explain the advantages and disadvantages of some aspects of each of the tools, talk about the difficulty of overcoming common problems such as giving good feedback, adequately exploiting authentic material, and finish by presenting the results of their work on evaluating this material with students. Based on a case study in the Centre for Applied Language Studies at the University of Dundee, the article looks at the problems involved in producing CALL material using two separate authoring packages. It explores the exploitation of authentic material in a multimedia environment, looks at the advantages and disadvantages of the tools used by providing a comparative evaluation, and discusses the complex problems faced by teachers in developing CALL and integrating it into their courses.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning 1998

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