Yasuhiro Omoto, University of California, Berkeley
yomoto@uclink.berkeley.edu
Keiko Schneider, Saboten Web Design
kschnei@sabotenweb.com
This handout is available at
http://www.sabotenweb.com/conference/CALICO2001
Last year, the Internal Society for Technology in Education released technology guidelines for teachers called The National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers. According to those guidelines, teachers should, at the very least, have a basic knowledge of computing skills. We are all aware that language educators are occupied with other assignments in their various institutions, and it is difficult to make time to learn about computers.
Also, it has been the case that educators often do not have the opportunity to share materials or ideas on teaching. Usually, each individual is isolated, having to make materials on his/her own. Through this online community, we do not have to reinvent the wheel--language educators can share materials and teaching ideas online.
In order to fill these gaps, NihongoWeb was created in 1998. It offers information on (1) Japanese Computing, (2) teaching materials and (3) teaching ideas. There are more than 50 people visiting NihongoWeb each day.
(1) NihongoWeb (http://www.nihongoweb.com) has information on how to set up Japanese-ready computers with detailed texts and pictures. It also has much useful information on freeware & shareware which can aid Japanese language teaching.
Since Japanese uses 2 byte characters, it is even harder for Japanese language educators to master Japanese computing. So it is important for Japanese language educators to get support for their computing needs. Since many Japanese language educators cannot get help from their own institutions, we need to build an online community where we can share information via the Internet.
(2) NihongoWeb also has more than 600 free downloadable photos of Japan and about 100 visual aids. As long as the materials are used in educational settings, educators may use them without worrying about copyright issues.
(3) It is imperative that one can adapt the materials to fit his/her own needs and the needs of their institution, so NihongoWeb has detailed texts explaining how to make materials and how to use them in class. After reading information posted in NihongoWeb, it is easier to adapt materials and teaching ideas to fit a particular class rather than creating them from scratch.
NihongoWeb also provides the stroke order of Hiragana, Katakana and some Kanji along with their pronunciation. It also offers a web-based Japanese proverb dictionary and Gairaigo dictionary. Currently NihongoWeb is working on materials on CD-Rom free of charge for Japanese language educators.
If you have any questions regarding NihongoWeb, please contact Yasuhiro Omoto at yomoto@nihongoweb.com
Japanese Language Material Ring (JLMR) was established to allow Japanese language educators to share teaching materials, information on computing, and teaching ideas more effectively and efficiently. Webring connects to other websites providing original materials, and educators can use these materials without having to worry about copyright issues. Since anyone who wants to share materials can participate, the amount of materials will grow as members continue to join. Please contact Webring Manager, Mayumi Ishida at mayumi@nimbus.dartmouth.edu
JLMR aspires to establish an online community for Japanese language teachers, serving as a source of teaching materials, information and teaching ideas.
The list hopes to serve as an online community of those who are concerned with Japanese language/culture education. It will help networking, sharing ideas and supporting each other. Current members include teachers of Japanese (Elementary, Immersion, Middle/High School, Community College, University/College, Other Education Institutions), English teachers in Japan, CALL specialists, Language Lab Technicians, Engineers, Web Designers, Graduate Students and eager learners of Japanese. Members reside all over the globe.
Why started with eGroups?
- Easy maintenance, Chatroom among members, Free with bottom message ad (now paid about $60 a year to remove ad)
- No control over matters such as merger with Yahoo, changing features
Spam preventing and virus protecting:
Not listed in directory, restricted membership, non-educational domain needs to furnish the statement that shows interest in Japanese education, no attachment permitted
Promoting posts and participating in the list special:
Posts unmoderated, archives for members only, discussion for members only
Why not Japanese version?:
eGroups international version will be merged with Yahoo Groups next. Both eGroups and Yahoo Groups servers seem multilingual friendly. International version's interface is in that language.
Future events:
Yoshiko Kawamura, Tokyo International University, Japan (3/23)
Lesley Shield and Sue Hewer, Open University, UK (4/19)
Yoko Kano, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Eiko Ushida, Carnegie Mellon University
And more!
Previous events:
http://www.sabotenweb.com/bookmarks/about/benkyoukai.html
-"Cultural Liberation: East-West Biculturalism for a New Century" by Steve McCarty, Kagawa Junior College, Japan
- "Making CALL Count (Improving CALL and On-line Activities)" by Greg Dablestein, Brisbane Grammar School, Australia
- "Enhancing language learning through electronic reading" by John Fahey of University of Texas at El Paso
-"Synchronous vs Asynchronous in Education", Cys Bronner, World Without Borders
-"Web-based Japanese Language Assessment" by Carly Born and Joanna Hollis, Monterey Institute of International Studies
- "Internet Videoconferencing and Japanese Learning" by Suzuko Anai of University of Essex, UK
- "Global Virtual University Project" by Yoko Kano of University of North Carolina, Wilmington
-"Interinstitutional Collaborative Learning on the Web. Projects and Ideas" by David Ashworth of University of Hawaii
- "Changing Trends in Japanese Language Education" Steve Liston, Kyozai, Australia
If you have any questions, please contact senseiOnline Manager, Keiko Schneider at kschnei@sabotenweb.com
http://www.worldwithoutborders.com/
Benkyoukai is hosted by World Without Borders and sponsored by Apple Computers, Inc. Higher Education. The Meeting Place is the place to come for ideas, product info, to discuss the issues, to air concerns. This weekly educator's roundtable, sponsored by The Apple Learning Community Connection, is the place to find out how Apple products and
technologies can help institutions enhance learning opportunities and advance educational innovation. Educators of all platforms are welcome. "If learning is an act of exploration, then technology equips the explorer for the journey of a lifetime."
Copyright 2001 Yasuhiro Omoto and Keiko Schneider
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