Tasks in virtual learning environments

Tasks in virtual learning environments

1. Oral production tasks

   • Group discussion
     • Oral presentations
       • Jigsaw presentations
         • Debates

2. Characteristics of successful tasks

   • Motivate students learning.
   • Meet the students' needs
   • Appropriate to achieve goals
   • According to the students' proficiency level
   • Include a pre-task, while-task, and post-task stage
   • Promote communication
   • Need to have a purpose beyond the class
   • Should preferably be for pair or group work

3. Tasks 2.0

   • Learning by doing
   • Learning by interacting
     • Oriented to collaborative learning
   • Learning by searching
   • Learning by sharing
   • Useful for the development of
     • Oral expression and listening comprehension
       • Videoconference
         • Videosimulators
           • Creation and listening of podcasts.
     • Written expression and reading comprehension
       • Chats
         • Blogs
           • Forums
   • Principles
     • Individualized and contextualized use of the evaluation tools
     • Co-evaluation that encourages a evaluation of the processes and provide feedback on your learning
     • Procedural evaluation to assess no only the final product but the processes
     • (Co)Responsibility in the evaluation to share among the members of the learning community, which makes it in a richer and more varied process.

4. Didactic functions of the teachers in EVA

   • Create a suitable environment for creative, supportive, participatory and highly collaborative learning
     • To carry out the control and moderation of the tasks 2.0 and initiate self-moderation processes among students.
       • Perform the necessary demonstrations of the product to be developed and provide models linguistic skills that facilitate learning and the development of 2.0 tasks.

5. Task-based language teaching (TBLT)

   • A task is a piece of work undertaken for oneself or for others, freely or for some reward.
   • Characteristics
     • Natural or naturalistic language use
       • Activities are related to meaning rather than language.
         • Learner centered
   • Benefits
     • It stresses meaning over form.
       • It offers learners a fertile input of target language.
         • It is intrinsically motivating.
           • It contributes to the improvement of communicative fluency while not disregarding accuracy.
   • Challenges
     • Task-based learning involves a high level of creativity and dynamism on the part of the teacher.
       • Task-based learning necessitates resources beyond the textbooks.
         • Some learners employ the mother tongue when they face with a difficulty or if the group feels intolerant.