The Kanien’kéha Language and Resource Centre is a subsidiary of AEDA, Akwesasne Economic Development Agency. It was established in 2006 to promote the revitalization of the Kanien’kéha language through traditional teaching and modern technological advancement.
CAN-8 VirtuaLab by Sounds Virtual
The Can 8 Virtual Lab is interactive computer software program utilizing comprehension, speaking, and listening skills.
It is filled with everything from basic pronunciation to an advance level of immersion content. This online
database goes beyond language. It is a fountain of knowledge filled with legend and stories, songs, speeches, history and cultural teachings, dialogues, grammar and much more, and it also includes a dictionary.
It has endless possibilities regarding to the language program. It is used as a pronunciation coach for practicing conversation, grammar, speeches and just everyday expressions. It’s a great way to preserve our language & culture for future generations and an economic solution to preserve, protect, and revitalize First Nation’s Languages.
What we purchased is an empty data base system. Instructors can start creating their own course material within a few hours of learning the Can8. Oral production is the focus of student activity. The types of exercises in the Can 8 program include:
Each instructor has their own User ID and access code for the Can 8. Within the system, they have the ability to do the following: Create lessons and manage classes, create accounts for students, assign lessons to an entire class, obtain reports for tests, students grades, amount of time on students spend on Can 8, and which activities were completed including date and time.
Can-8 has two view screens, the Instructor and the Student Screen The Instructor Screen has three main views
Tracker View: Can review and correct their student’s work
Planner view: Area used to create lesson plans
Student view: Instructors can see what their students see
Tracker View
This module reports up-to-date information on the progress of the students through an easy lesson:
1.Students are listed by name (in a scrolling window).
2.The status for each item in the lesson is color coded (e.g. complete, incomplete, right or wrong).
3.The instructor can see or hear any response from any student (and grade the student responses).
4.The instructor can give special instructions to retake any item.
5.The instructor can leave a message for the student.
6.The instructor can talk live to the class.
7.The instructor can call and talk live to a student.
8.The instructor manages storage of student progress recordings.
9.The instructor can place the lesson in lock, test, practice mode.
10.The instructor can permit the student to view achieved grades, ranking, highest, lowest, and average.
11.View a student’s screen.
12.Listen to a student. (Instructor’s presence unannounced).
13.Talk to student (previously available) can be invoked during listening for a phone conversation
14.Point to a location on the student’s screen (while talking). Unique teacher pointer clearly distinguishes who is who
Understanding Tracker Colors
Write on the student’s screen. Writing is done in a box which can be sized by the teacher. When the message is prepared, the teacher can drag it to the appropriate location on the student’s screen and drop it there. The message may include any special keyboard characters assigned to that lesson. The teacher note will appear on the student’s screen.
The name of each student appears at the left of the screen. Blue background are currently signed on. Black background Students have accessed the lesson but are no longer signed on.
When a student has answered a question or recorded a response to a lesson item, the cell for that item will be filled in with a color on the tracker screen
Blank - The student has not yet responded to the item.
Gray - The student has recorded a response or the student has written something which you can now review.
Red - You recorded special instructions to the student for this item which the student has not yet completed.
Yellow - The student has received your special instructions and has recorded a new response.
Cyan - The student has answered the multiple-choice or fill in the blanks item correctly.
Purple - The student has answered this Multiple choice or fills in the blanks incorrectly.
Green - The instructor has listened to the response.
Planner View – This area is used to create lesson plans:
Lesson plans can be created before a class begins and students access the lesson.
The lesson plan can be modified or added to while a class is in progress.
Students can access new items as soon as the changes are completed in PLANNER and the instructor returns to the main menu.
Instructors also have access to the Workplace. A secure area which allows instructors to create course materials without giving access to students until the lesson is ready.
Types of codes used to create lesson plans
I - Title of subject
T - Study explanation, storytelling, listen to songs
E - Listen & Record
S - Student records simultaneously while listening
C - Conversation (not seen by student) (for dialogs)
V - To verify – Student must respond to questions
R - Read & Record
A - Instructor asks a question & you record your answer (flashcards)
M - Multiple choice questions
F - Fill-in the blanks
Student Screen - The student’s screen displays a menu of the contents of the lesson in two levels:
- Each section begins with an introduction to the section and a list of items in the section.
- Within each section, a menu of items available to the student is displayed. (Including Teaching Points, Examples, Readings, and Questions)
Once an item has been selected the student can see:
Student Screen - The student can access four possible sound recordings in a single item with function keys:
- introduction applying to the The section (Instructions)
- An exemplar recording for the student emulation (Example)
- The student’s own voice that has just been recorded (Play)
- A recording of one part in a simulated conversation
The student can randomly select any point in a sound recording by moving a pointer to a visual display of the sound to replay the sound. Text that is keyed to the sound will highlight as the sound plays.
Listen and Record (E)
Songs
Multiple Choice (M)
Storytelling
Fill In The Blanks
Cultural Teachings
Dialogue (C & E)
Respond to Questions
