25 Features Of Ill

Specifications Interactive Language Lab 30 Students (A) General This language lab will cater for 25 students. This will work on a user supplied 100 mbps LAN consisting of 26 computers of P4 type with Windows XP (patch2) as operating system. The system will consist of: • A teacher’s workstation • 25 student workstations. This includes both computers and special language lab cassette recorders. (cassette recorders are optional) • Interconnection cabling as per site requirement. All the audio communication is through rugged and light- weight headsets. The headsets consist of high-quality headphones and a close speaking noise-canceling microphone. The earphone muff is made of anti-allergic material and easily replaceable. The system consists of a separate audio network for routing all the audio signals in the lab and a separate video network for routing live video signals from the teacher to students. The detailed functionality is as follows. (B) The Audio network functions: Audio network provides the following functionality: (1) Intercom: Teacher is able to have intercom with desired student. (2) All call: In this mode teacher is able to speak to all the students and is able to listen to the responses of all the students. (3) Student response: In this mode the teacher is able to listen to the selected student without the student’s knowledge, with an option to speak to him. (4) Group discussions: There is a facility to form multiple groups of students either randomly generated or teacher assigned. The teacher is able to participate or record discussion in any group. (5) Paired conversations: There is a facility to form multiple pairs of students either randomly generated or teacher assigned. The teacher is able to participate or record discussion in any pair. (6) Broadcast audio facility: There is a facility to broadcast an audio program from the teacher for on line response monitoring of the students or for making copies of the program on student equipment.

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(7) Program transfer management: There is a facility for the teacher to transfer a selected audio program to a required group/s or different audio programs to different groups simultaneously or to import third party audio programs. In addition, there is a facility to transfer any data file through LAN directly to various groups of students. (8) Quick lesson: The teacher is able to record a new audio lesson on his hard disk or on a cassette recorder for immediate use. (C) The Video network functions (1) Video broadcast: This provides a facility to play a video program, including a live video, on the teacher’s workstation and simultaneously show it on all the students’ monitors- real time and jerk free. In this mode, the students’ keyboard and mouse are inactive. (2) Substitute teacher’s voice in video programs: It is possible to insert the teacher’s voice in place of the original program audio. (3) Multiple use of video network: It is possible to start any other desired application on the teacher’s computer and show it live to all the students simultaneously while functions like All Call, Intercom etc. remain active. (4) Reverse monitoring student’s screen: It is possible for the teacher to monitor or freeze desired student’s screen. The teacher is also be able to listen to the student without his knowledge or speak to him. Teacher is able to stop the keyboard and mouse functions of the student.

(D) Student Equipment functions (1) General: Besides computer and a tape recorder, every student’s workstation contains active circuitry to deal with following audio sources 1. The student’s own voice 2. The teacher’s voice 3. Any audio program from the teacher’s workstation 4. Sound from the student’s computer’s sound card 5. Voice of other students All these sounds are available in student’s headphone. There is a volume control for the student’s headphone. (2) Audio recording facilities for the student: (i) Software audio recorder: A software recorder for sound recording is provided with two independent audio tracks. There are two text tracks for co-relating the text with sound. It is possible to assign a desired script on these text tracks. There is a ‘play within loop’ facility. (ii) Cassette recorder: This is a cassette tape recorder with 2 half-track format. One track is reserved for the teacher and the other for student. The teacher’s track can be recorded from the teacher’s workstation. It is possible for the student to record his voice while listening to the teacher’s track without erasing the teacher track.

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(3) ‘Call’ switch: A ‘Call’ switch is included in the students’ equipment for him to attract teacher’s attention and register his request. (4) Messaging: There is a facility to send text messagesFrom teacher to desired student/s Student to teacher and Student to student. (The teacher can block this facility). (5) Comprehension exercises: There is a facility for reading fluency and listening comprehension exercises through an ‘audiovisual text editor’ called WordSound. (6) Expression imitation: There is a facility for imitating facial expressions through a suitable multitasked media recorder/player called ‘Expressions’. (E) Objective tests by Question bank and test creation This provides a facility to: i. Create/edit question bank /banks with model answers including audiovisual support for question or explanation. ii. Set a question paper/s- by selecting questions from the question bank/banks. iii. Let a student solve a question paper and display assessment results based on model answers. Creating a question bank: The question bank is divided into ‘question types’ to classify the questions. Objective question types are required like• Select one out of two; • Select a unique choice from supplied options; • ‘Fill in the blanks’ from provided options; • Give the unique answer; • Arrange ‘proper order’ or sequence from supplied options: • Arrange pairs etc. Facility is provided to link ‘audio’ or video file as a part of question or model answer. Creating a question paper: It is possible to enter questions to the question paper, set a ‘time limit’ for answering the questions, put question numbers. Solving a question paper: It is possible for the student to enter answers and then ‘SUBMIT’ for assessment. Then his answers are compared to model answers and his score of correct answers is displayed.

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