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Database of Teaching Sources

A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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Le tre A della Microbiologia: agraria, alimentare, ambientale

Date of Publication

15 marzo 2019

Target Group

Lecturers
Students

Domain Area

Bioscience
Medicine & Nursing

Learning Scenario

Autonomous learning
Classroom Context

Target Language

Italian

Language of Instruction

Any language

CEFR level

B2
C1
C2

Type of Material

Activity/task
Audio
Video

Linguistic Features

Vocabulary
Grammar
Pragmatics
Prosody

Skills

Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Writing
Reading
Mediation

Description

This teaching resource is a MOOC course organized by EduOpen, an italian web platform and delivered by the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering - University of Foggia. The course focuses on the basic knowledge of microorganisms, in particular bacteria, in relation to their morphological and nutritional characteristics and their environmental needs. It’s intended for university students who already possess basic knowledge on the topic. It is divided into 5 modules consisting of 22 short video-lessons lasting an average of 5 minutes: microorganisms in human life and in the environment; bacterial cell structure; nutrition and microbial growth; environmental parameters that affect microbial development; microbiology laboratory tools and sterility concept. The expected duration of the course is 4 weeks. In addition, there is a glossary in pdf which presents synthetic definitions of the most used technical terms.

Case study

Positive aspects: This teaching resource is useful for advanced students interested in exploring the language of the biological sciences as long as it is appropriately taught by the teacher. The materials present the basic elements of microbiology and the speed of speaking allows individual words to be understood. There is also a restricted glossary covering technical terms. The innovative approach to language study is provided by the availability and usability of the materials online. From a technical point of view they are easy and intuitive to use with a clear index on the left hand side of the screen.

Negative aspects: the setting is typical of the frontal academic lesson with the teacher's monologue not supported by a visual aid. There is no transcription of the videos and there are no explanations or specific exercises on the linguistic aspects presented in the videos; there are also no tools to support language learning (more general glossaries, presentations of morpho-syntactic structures, reinforcement exercises and tests to assess learning, etc.).

Guidelines

This teaching resource would be implemented as part of a much more comprehensive teaching unit. The target group should be university students, attending a specialization course aimed at improving not only their Language for Specific Purposes skills but also at enhancing their general language competences on the subjects of this teaching resource. All 5 modules can be used flexibly to suit students’ needs. These short video-lesson are meant for B2 onwards audience either for written or listening comprehension activities and the aim is to provide a resource for the development of written and oral production, motivating the students to improve their language skills.

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

4

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

4

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

5

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

3

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

4

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

3

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

4

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

4

Comments:
This resource can be delivered in both tutored and self-learning mode. It displays a great potential for didactic purposes and activities - both as specific and general Italian - for students, teachers and professionals (translators and interpreters). This course offers opportunities for both oral and written practice in a variety of formats: note-taking, summary, discussion about the topics. All 5 modules can be used flexibly to suit students’ needs and teachers are provided with an array of resources which they can implement and adapt to their classroom setting. In addition, all these materials can be used in face to face, blended or online courses.
Website of the Teaching Source:
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