http://camel2.conncoll.edu/academics/departments/italian/adult/index.html
Project Report By: Mary Devins, Italian, Connecticut College
My proposal was to design a website for a mini ten-week course in Italian for beginners and travelers. The project has proved to be fun and interesting and, needless to say, much more work than I envisioned.
The title page has four main links: general information, lesson list, learning tools, grammar glossary, and course outline. The general information describes the need for such a course, the methodology, and a link to a bio of the creator as well as an email link. The course outline describes how each chapter is organized. The lesson list breaks down the contents of each chapter including the grammar topic, the learning objective of the dialogue by topic, exercises, an exam, vocabulary and a cultural note. Each page also has a link back to the main page. There are answers for the exercises and exams. The dialogue topic and the cultural note are connected, for example, if the dialogue is discussing greetings and salutations, the cultural note will discuss the Italian custom of addressing people either in the polite or familiar form. The learning tools include a pronunciation guide, a comprehensive vocabulary list, a grammar glossary with links back to the related chapter and links to a large variety of useful websites.
I have just completed teaching such a course at an evening adult education section and created my outline from my objectives in that course. I feel confidant that my objectives for the website are realistic and my students are anxious to try it out.
The project is not fully completed at this time, but the outline and concept is clear. I have a better sense now of how to proceed teaching in this medium and look forward to incorporating audio and perhaps some video into the program.
I owe special thanks to Marisa Castagno and Sarah Lohnes for all the help with the technical part of the project.