Kazunori Nozawa

Toyohashi University of Technology

The Language Center at Toyohashi University of Technology in Toyohashi, Aichi, installed a CALL laboratory to replace the old LL (Language Laboratory) in March 1995. The writer got involved with it in the planning stage and Nozawa (1994) briefly described the CALLLS (Computer Assisted Language Learning System), the planned integrated system of a LL and a CL (Computer Laboratory). Since its inauguration in April 1995, he has acted as the lab coordinator as well as an inexperienced lab technician. This report discusses both positive and negative aspects based on his past and on-going experiences regarding hardware, software, humanware, and maintenance in addition to some tips on setting up new CALL labs.

Hardware Issues

Over the past three years there have been many problems with the computers and the network system. The writer had to struggle and spend an enormous number of hours solving them. In addition, from time to time some technical problems required the assistance of consultants. There, however, has been no insurmountable problem so far.

Software Issues

For the first year of the CALL Lab, there was no budget to purchase software except by utilizing a part of the maintenance budget that was less than 2% of the purchased price. As a result, only some freeware/shareware were installed at the beginning. However, since all the computers were connected to the Internet, there were fewer problems using them for Internet-based classes. With the rest of the annual maintenance budget, a site-licensed word-processing software, Claris Works 2.0, were purchased. It was purchased after getting suggestions from other CALL lab coordinators on the net and installed because of its advantageous characteristics (all-in-one-set of word-processing, calculation, graphic drawing, etc.) and price.

In March 1996, with the same MUPS budget a variety of multimedia CD-ROMs (55 sets each) such as Dynamic English, Listen, NOVA City, Oxford Science Shelf, etc., focusing more on teaching English as EFL were purchased. Some 10-sets of CD-ROMs for JSL teaching such as Nihongoware and Kojien Dictionary in addition to some multimedia software such as Micromedia Director & Premiere, Adobe Photoshop, Claris Draw, etc. were also purchased. The lab coordinator, who had obtained up-to-date information from various sources, chose them. Such software allowed more efficient use of the CALL Lab: not just Internet classes could be given.

In autumn 1996, Claris Works 4.0 replaced the older version. In March 1997 At-Ease for Workgroups was installed to solve problems of internal invasions and tricks by trouble-making students. It permitted to control over what kinds of software the students for a particular class could use. This was a must action because the writer as the lab coordinator previously had to spend a great amount of time fixing the problems or erasing unnecessary files from each computer during his free time.

Humanware Issues

Maintenance Issues

Whenever new software or upgrades were installed, most of them were done by the coordinator himself. Needless to say, it took many hours (more than 2 full days) to install and check all of the 54 computers to ensure they worked properly. But it was worthwhile volunteering for the users in the long run.

In addition, regarding the room maintenance the coordinator sometimes found trivial scribblings on the booth desks. Since the room was used not only for the Internet classes but also the LL classes, the coordinator believes that some unmotivated and ill-natured students scribbled when they got bored with their learning activities. Fortunately they were mostly written in pencil, so they were easy to erase. Although the coordinator gave clear guidelines on how to use the hardware and the room at the beginning of each term, some students ignored the rules.

Furthermore, the coordinator also found that even some professional maintenance work was not always complete. For example, after the extra RAM was installed, the memory for one of the computers showed 40MB like others but when software such as Netscape 3.0 on the computer started to run, it froze. After many hours of checks and re-installations of the hard drive, the system dealer finally found that the installation of the RAM for that computer was not the right type. It was 8MB (basic) + 4MB + 16MB and it should have been 8MB (basic) + 16MB + 16MB. After replacing it, there was no problem at all. Human beings are not perfect and neither are professional engineers.

Some tips for setting up CALL labs

Here are some tips from the writer for those who are planning to set up a CALL lab in their own settings:

2. Get some supports from your colleagues and form a project team to discuss detailed matters such as design of the room, network system, security system, maintenance, etc. This is necessary to satisfy all the possible users.

3. Allocate enough funds specifically for succeeding years for an annual maintenance contract to do regular check-ups and solve unexpected problems. If there are not enough funds, some faculty members will have am excessive workload.

4. Communicate well with the system dealer before, during, after the installation. This is necessary to ensure that what teachers want to do is technically feasible.

5. Attend seminars, workshops, and conferences, or exchange information on the net before purchase of the system.

7. Visit some established CALL labs and get some advice by discussing positive and negative aspects of CALL labs with the staff who are involved in the management and the maintenance.

Conclusion

In addition, to have such balanced triangle relationship for the CALL lab, funds for each category should be allocated equally. Thus, there would be a satisfactory technical support from the system dealer, funds to purchase upgrades of existing software or new software, and maintain the lab smoothly by student workers or the lab technician.

References

Computer Center Annual Report, 15, 1-3.

Asao, Kojiro & Saito, Noriaki (eds.), Intaanetto to Eigo Kyoiku (The

Internet and English Education), Taishukan, Co., 149-154.

Journal of Computers and Education), 9(1), 28-31.

Sony System Business Company Nagoya Branch Office. (comp.) (1995).