Evaluation Of CALL Software

With the rapid advancement of computer technology, more and more CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning) software have been developed for foreign language learning and the number of teachers using CALL and CALL software has been increasing markedly. However, teachers and learners often find it difficult to decide which software is more useful to English learning. Research on evaluation of the multimedia software and on the effective use of CALL for learning and instruction remains limited in China. Thus there is a pressing need for substantial research and evaluation under controlled condition to better understand the special impact of multimedia software on college English learning.The main concern and interest of this study is to evaluate the Experiencing English CD-ROM published by Higher Education Press as the supplementary media to their textbooks Experiencing English. It is expected that this study will highlight strengths and limitations of the multimedia CD-ROM under evaluation. In addition, some issues on multimedia CD-ROM learning are also discussed. The major findings of the study can be summarized as follows:This program can fit into the instructor's foreign language class in the following ways:(1) It can serve as a supplementary material by offering a range of exercises that complement the materials being taught in class already; (2) It provides extra practice covering listening, speaking, reading, writing and translating skills outside class hours, thus saving class time for teachers to introduce new information;(3) It has great potential of helping students review what they have learned in class, arousing students' learning interest and motives, and improving learners' reading, speaking and listening abilities. The majorities of the subjects think highly of the CD-ROM in terms of its design, contents and operation. To sum up, this CD-ROM is worth recommending to other prospective buyers.In the study, both quantitative and qualitative methods are employed. The quantitative data are collected from the evaluation of the target CD-ROM by two evaluators through a well-designed checklist and a survey of 75 second-year non-English major students. Besides, interviews with students and teachers are employed as qualitative data. Based on the findings elicited quantitatively and qualitatively, strengths and weaknesses of the CD-ROM are discussed, and suggestions about the design of the CD-ROM are proposed.It is hoped that this study can offer some useful suggestions to language teachers so that they may effectively use CALL software as a supplement to their regular teaching and guide students how to use it in their autonomy learning. Finally, this study will be able to provide publishing houses and courseware designers with some useful suggestions for further development.