CAN-8 Language Learning and Teaching System

 

"The CAN-8 system can use a number of computers connected through a local area network (or intranet), or it can use a wide area network (such as the internet) to do the functions of a language lab." states the CAN-8 manual found in the help file of the program. CAN-8 consists of a server connected to the client computers in the language lab. Students, faculty and staff access multimedia language learning lessons created by the faculty or textbook specific lessons by clicking the icon on the computers in LIB-449 and LIB-451. These lessons, exercises and assessments can be created with text, graphics, audio or video in any language and in any combination of teaching and testing formats. When planning lessons, faculty enter the following letter codes to get the appropriate screen to create content.

 

I - Instruction Items
T - Teaching Items
M - Multiple Choice Items
F - Fill- in- the-Blanks Items
E - Example Items
V - Verify Items
C - Conversation Items
A - Ask and Answer Items
S - Simultaneous Items
R - Read Items
W - Write Items

 

Students and faculty log on with this screen. For their Login ID, faculty use their last name in all capital letters without spaces or special characters. If they teach more than one language they will have separate Login IDs for each consisting of their last name followed by the letter of the languages they teach. For example, John Doe teaches French and Spanish, so his Login IDs are DOEF and DOES respectively.

 

 

Students use their 9 digit Student ID Number

(as is printed on class lists from NEIUPort) as a User ID.

 

Use the yellow highlighted numbers on your NEIU Student ID card. Just add enough in front of that number to make 9 digits total. Example: 000123456

 

The initial password will be given by the Language Lab Supervisor. Once logged in for the first time, students and faculty should change their password immediately so their work is only seen by heir teacher and themselves. Click "Change your password" on the Main Menu. Only students enrolled in foreign language classes, have a login account. Faculty are given a User ID and password by the Language Lab Supervisor

 

Only currently enrolled students and currently employed faculty members are set up in the system, based on registration data for Department of World Languages & Cultures classes imported from data in Banner/NEIUPort. This is usually set up by the Language Lab Supervisor after Change of Registration has ended for the current term.

 

Lessons and content are sorted by language and class, with customized menus based on if the user is a student or faculty member, and what languages the user is teaching or learning. To the left is an example of a French listening item with fill in the blank (F) answers. Listed below are the manuals and help files for CAN-8.

 

Video on CAN-8 must be stored on the hard drive of the computer where the program is used. Lessons for WL&C classes are stored in the c:\video folder. To watch outside of LIB-451/449 students must bring recordable media and put those files in a folder named c:\media after installing the appropriate video codec.

 

Below are some training documents and downloads to use CAN-8 outside the lab.

• CAN-8 Administration Guide (PDF) For the lab director and server administrator to create/manage login accounts and classes

• CAN-8 Authoring Guide (PDF) For faculty to create lessons, exercises, quizzes and tests

• CAN-8 Guide for using Microsoft IME for Japanese Text (PDF) For typing in Japanese while using CAN-8

• CAN-8 Master Guide (PDF) For the lab director/server administrator. (Similar to the Administration Guide, different edition.)

• CAN-8 Teaching Guide (PDF) For faculty to give tests, track students' progress and communicate with students.

• CAN-8 Student Help Files (HTML) The program's help files for students.

• CAN-8 Instructor / Staff Help Files (HTML) The program's help files for faculty, lab director and server administrator.

• CAN-8 Client Installation File (EXE) This program currently only available for Microsoft Windows (any 32 bit version of Windows 3.1, 95, 98, 2000, Me, XP and Vista). It is already installed in the Language Learning Lab. Use outside of the lab requires a headset with a microphone and a full-duplex sound card (sound cards that can play more than one sound clip simultaneously). Mac users will need an Intel processor based computer and the ability to emulate or run Windows with programs such as Sun Virtual Box, BootCamp or Parallels. However, full functionality is not guaranteed or supported by NEIU or Sound Virtual Inc. the program's manufacturer.

• NEIU_CAN8_internal_setup.exe On-Campus Installation (for faculty and staff office computers)

• NEIU_CAN8_external_setup.exe Off-Campus Installation (for personal computers and laptops)

• DivX 5.0 Video Codec Required to view AVI video files in CAN-8. Newer versions do not work. Video files must be AVI format encoded with PCM audio and this DivX codec.

This program requires a login account provided by the Lab Supervisor. Only students and faculty in Department of World Languages & Cultures courses have access to this program.

 

For more information about CAN-8, DLL and X-Class, visit the manufacturer's and vendor's websites (below) or contact the Language Learning Lab and the Department of World Languages & Cultures:

• Sun-Tech International Group Limited: www.suntechgroup.com

• Sound Virtual Incorporated: www.can8.com

• Learning Branch (formerly Steffri Multimedia): www.learningbranch.com