Projects
Developing IADE (Intelligent Academic Discourse Evaluator) (Spring 2008- to date)
This project aims at building an ICALL web-based educational application, named  IADE (Intelligent Academic Discourse Evaluator), that can analyze and evaluate non-native speaker graduate students’ research article introductions based on a model adapted from Swales (1990, 2004). It achieves this by conducting a sentence-level classification of the input text for rhetorical shifts. Following a natural language processing approach to developing the program, a text-categorization method for feature selection was employed and supervised learning models were experimented with.
Theoretical and empirical aspects are also considered in the design of IADE. The program draws on Second Language Acquisition models such as Interactionist views and Systemic Functional Linguistics as well as on the Skill Acquisition Theory of learning. It is also informed by research on the provision of feedback and by Evidence Centered Design principles (Mislevy et al., 2006).
This project was created by Roberta Vann, TESL/AL Professor, and other members
of the Our Kids Lead Team for ELLs, and sponsored by the Iowa Department of
Education. The goal of the simulation is to enable
participants to 1) experience key emotions connected with interacting in educational
settings in a new culture and language, 2) reflect on useful coping strategies,
and 3) draw implications for themselves and for fellow workers as both Iowan
citizens interacting with newcomers and as educators who work with English
language learners and their parents. Elena is a research assistant and staff
coordinator for the simulation events.
EASEL was funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the Iowa Department
of Education. It aimed at introducing a model of inquiry-based and strategy-centered
science teaching, providing practice in using research-based strategies that
enhance learning for all students, and enhancing professional development
and collaboration between science and ESL teachers, AEA consultants, and university
colleagues. Elena joined the research team: Roberta Vann, TESL/AL Professor,
John Levis, TESL/AL Associate Professor, Joanne Olson, Curriculum
and Instruction, Associate Professor,
Katherine Richardson-Bruna, Curriculum and Instruction Assistant Professor,
Dan Douglas, TESL/AL Professor, as assitant coordinator for the EASEL summer
institute. She also conducted a 'shock language' event within the institute.
Elena developed online materials, which consisted of contextualization activities,
skill-building activities, communicative listening activities, and comprehension
support resources.
CALL Projects
"It's
a Party!" Reading Comprehension Unit for low-intermediate learners
Tutorials: 1 and 2
