Research Journal Reflection for unit 2

Research Journal Reflection for Unit Two:
My current job is to train Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) testers and therefore I conduct multiple workshops for the instructors of the Defense Language Institute (DLI) to help them become government certified OPI testers. These testers have to be recertified yearly in order to refresh their testing skills. In addition to the yearly recertification thirty percent of all OPIs are being quality controlled by my division and we call the testers for test review. Since all these testers are teachers at the same time it is very difficult for them to spare time for this very crucial task of test review. Therefore my action research is going to be on benefits of online tutorial/Online Courses. In my specific case the advantages of online tutorials for OPI testers. This way the testers will have a chance to review testing skills at their own convenience online and email us with any questions and concerns. An online tutorial will give the testers a feeling of comfort and less pressure. Normally testers think of the test review session as a negative point in their testing and because all OPIs are conducted by tow certified testers we call both testers for the review sessions. Most testers feel pressured to have to review their own tests in front of a colleague. It makes it difficult for them to take feedback about an error in their testing performance and all this causes tension. I believe that the online tutorial is the solution. The testers will receive a private email inviting them to participate in the tutorial. The tutorial will be a combination of review and quizzes.



My research question is “What are the advantages and disadvantages of online courses?”

Education and Technology Topics of Interest:
• Distance Education/ online courses
Specific technology tools or technology teaching strategies to be explored for my action research
• Access to the internet
• The integration of audio/video materials
• Web space

Possible research questions:
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of teaching online course?
• How can I assess participants during and at the end of the course?
• How will the online familiarization course help with the budget?
• How much does it cost for mentoring and providing the software equipments used for the purpose of teaching?

Links to peer-reviewed journal:
• http://eric.ed.gov/
• http://www.ling.pdx.edu/links/course_descriptions.pdf
• http://www.garrettcollege.edu/coned/courses/personal.htm
• http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/menuNavigation.do?hdAction=InsightHome
• http://www.xplanazine.com/
• http://historicus.us/
• https://www.itslearning.com/Eurovolt/prickett/portfolio/
• http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/fluency.html
• http://www.ctu.unimi.it/pdf/Ed-Media_2004_letitroll.pdf


Link to research journal blog:
• http://www.geocities.com/vance_stevens/onlinejo.htm 
• http://www.jaltcall.org/journal/articles/1_1_Pinkman.pdf
• http://www.schackne.com/Languageteaching.htm#Link6
• http://internationalstudies.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/chinese-made-easy-capital-region-business-journal/
• http://www.intute.ac.uk/artsandhumanities/cgi-bin/browse.pl?id=200320
• http://www.au.af.mil/culture/usgov.htm
• http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue2/huffaker.html
• http://www.web2weblog.com/50226711/try_mango_fabulous_online_language_courses.php

Links to websites:
• http://www.au.af.mil/culture/usgov.htm
• http://www.gmu.edu/departments/fld/SPANISH/sp-352a.htm
• http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/5173.html
• http://www.jmir.org/2003/2/e13/
• http://www.comfsm.fm/~jgourlay/EN120aoutline.htm
• http://comppile.tamucc.edu/wiki/BasicWriting/BestPractices-UsingPeerReview