CAN-8 VirtuaLab by Sounds Virtual

Can 8 Demo
The Can 8 VirtuaLab is a totally digital, multimedia, a language learning system that operates on a computer network.  It’s a virtual language learning system that provides students with the ability to learn and reinforce their own language learning, at their own pace. 

It has endless possibilities in regards to the language program.  It is used as a pronunciation coach for practicing conversation, grammar, speeches, and just everyday expressions.   It’s a great way to preserve our language & culture for future generations and an economic solution to preserve, protect, and revitalize First Nation’s Languages.

What we purchased is an empty database system.  Instructors can start creating their own course material within a few hours of learning the Can 8.  Oral production is the focus of student activity.  Students use Can 8 for listening, speaking, and comparing activities.  The types of exercises in the Can 8 program include:

  • Listen & Record (Words & Phrases)

  • Multiple Choice

  • Fill-in the Blanks

  • Dialogue & Conversation

  • Storytelling – Legends & Stories

  • Karaoke: Traditional, Local, Children Songs

  • Practice Speeches

  • Cultural Teachings & History

Each instructor has their own User ID and access code for the Can 8.  Within the system, they have the ability to do the following: Create lessons and manage classes, create accounts for students, assign lessons to an entire class, obtain reports for tests, students grades, amount of time on students spend on Can 8, and which activities were completed including date and time.

Can-8 has two view screens, the Instructor and the Student Screen

The Instructor Screen has three main views

  • Tracker View: Can review and correct their student’s work

  • Planner view: Area used to create lesson plans

  • Student view: Instructors can see what their students see

Tracker View - This module reports up-to-date information on the progress of the students through an easy lesson:

  • Students are listed by name (in a scrolling window)
  • The status for each item in the lesson is color-coded (e.g. complete, incomplete, right or wrong)
  • The instructor can see or hear any response from any student (and grade the student responses)
  • The instructor can give special instructions to retake any item
  • The instructor can leave a message for the student
  • The instructor can talk live to the class
  • The instructor can call and talk live to a student
  • The instructor manages storage of student progress recordings
  • The instructor can place the lesson in lock, test, practice mode
  • The instructor can permit the student to view achieved grades, ranking, highest, lowest, and average

Understanding Tracker Colors

The Tracker automatically organizes the students' work into a format like a spreadsheet.  Students' names are listed up on the left side of the screen and their responses to questions (either spoken or written) are shown to the right of their name. Colour code identifies the type of answer the student has provided and on certain questions if the response was correct or incorrect.

  • Blank - The student has not yet responded to the item.

  • Gray - The student has recorded a response or the student has written something which you can now review.

  • Red - You recorded special instructions to the student for this item which the student has not yet completed.

  • Yellow - The student has received your special instructions and has recorded a new response.

  • Cyan - The student has answered the multiple-choice or fill in the blanks item correctly.

  • Purple - The student has answered this Multiple choice or fills in the blanks incorrectly.

  • Green - The instructor has listened to the response.

Planner View – This area is used to create lesson plans:

Lesson plans can be created before a class begins and students access the lesson.  The lesson plan can be modified or added to while a class is in progress. Students can access new items as soon as the changes are completed in PLANNER and the instructor returns to the main menu.

Instructors also have access to the Workplace.  A secure area which allows instructors to create course materials without giving access to students until the lesson is ready.

Types of codes used to create lesson plans

  • I - Title of subject

  • T - Study explanation, storytelling, listen to songs

  • E - Listen & Record

  • S - Student records simultaneously while listening

  • V - To verify – Student must respond to questions

  • C - Conversation (not seen by student) (for dialogs)

  • R - Read & Record

  • A - Instructor asks a question & you record your answer (flashcards)

  • M - Multiple choice questions

  • F - Fill-in the blanks

Student View - The student’s screen displays a menu of the contents of the lesson in two levels:

  • Each section begins with an introduction to the section and a list of items in the section.
  • Within each section, a menu of items available to the student is displayed.  (Including Teaching Points, Examples, Readings, and Questions)

Once an item has been selected the student can see:

example

  • A Visual Display of the Lesson Sound

  • Text, Video, or Image and Questions

  • A Visual Display of the Student's Response

The student can access four possible sound recordings in a single item with function keys:

  • The introduction applying to the section (Instructions)
  • An exemplar recording for the student emulation (Example)
  • The student’s own voice that has just been recorded (Play)
  • A recording of one part in a simulated conversation
The student can randomly select any point in a sound recording by moving a pointer to a visual display of the sound to replay the sound. Text that is keyed to the sound will highlight as the sound plays.

Listen and Record (E)
Listen and Record

Multiple Choice (M)
multipple choice

Fill In The Blanks
Fill in the blanks

Dialogue (C & E)
dialogue

Songs
songs

Storytelling
story telling

Cultural Teachings
cultural teachings

Respond to Questions
respond to questions