CAN-8 VIRTUALAB

The CAN-8 VirtuaLab is a 100% digital language laboratory. It is a network based interactive, multimedia learning facility with the ability to teach and test languages from Arabic to English to Chinese. With voice over the Internet (VOIP) since 1997, this comprehensive learning system is used for classroom or distance learning, written or spoken language testing and group conferencing. It provides teachers with the platform and the flexibility to create content for any language teaching and testing method. Specified completely by teachers' requests, CAN-8 includes the instructor role in every stage of the student's learning process. The instructor can monitor, evaluate and provide feedback to students whose work has been automatically saved for this purpose. Students and instructors can maintain personal contact while working from any place at any time. As well, instructors can create or change lessons as the need arises. Again, from any place and at any time.  

HISTORY 

Sounds Virtual Inc. created CAN-8. Its purpose is to be a world leader in the design, development and distribution of unique computer products especially tailored to education and workplace training. Over thirty years of CAN systems' developments began in 1967 at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), assisted by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Beginning with the first commercial successes in the 1970s, CAN products have continued to evolve and be successfully installed in colleges and workplaces in Canada and around the world in over 20 countries. 

PRODUCT 

CAN 8 VirtuaLab is an interactive, multimedia tool used extensively for the instruction of modern languages, English-as-a-Second Language, as well as learning assistance and workplace training. Specified completely by teachers' requests, CAN-8 smoothly integrates student learning activities with instructor activities of evaluation and lesson creation.

CAN 8 VirtuaLab is software that runs on any network, such as a local area network, proprietary intranet, a wide area network and worldwide on the Internet. All activities are recorded and played in real time. Data storage takes place at the server for instant accessibility without local storage, setup, expensive teacher consoles or special cabling.
TCP/IP protocols permit placement of security features for integrity of system, student data and curriculum. 

Player


With CAN 8 VirtuaLab, oral production is the focus of student activity, not an afterthought. Language is communication. Students use CAN-8 for listen, speak and compare activities as well as more task-oriented, communicative activities. They can record and playback with high speed and excellent quality sound. Direct access to digitally recorded sound allows students to quickly find the precise spot in a word, sentence, dialogue or class menu. A CAN-8 lab is a multi-purpose learning environment. Students can follow class instruction or "drop-in" and work on many different activities. CAN-8 can be a pronunciation coach, a tool for practicing conversation, grammar and comprehension skills or a testing site. It can also be used to develop skills for interpretation or simultaneous translation professionals. 

Tracker 

CAN 8's Tracking module is designed to reduce the workload on the instructor. Monitoring, evaluation and testing is made easy.

A visual chart allows instructors to review class progress at a glance, at any time during or after student sessions. Instructors can zero in a student's oral answer, listen to it and give feedback. Instructors can work in class, from the office or home, for maximum flexibility and convenience. While one or more teachers review students' work, another can write a lesson, all while a class is in progress. No console or special cabling is required.

Different learning strategies


CAN-8 VirtuaLab can be used as a self-access facility and it can be used for interactive lab-class sessions. Instructors can talk live to the whole class, or call one student for a conversation.

1,2,3, Testing


CAN-8 VirtuaLab is used extensively for testing, especially oral testing. Time limits can be set on playing, reading and recording. Test parameters are controlled by the instructor, making CAN-8 the perfect tool for online entry diagnostics, weekly quizzes, and final oral exams.

Group Conversations

The Babilon Topology for group conversation allows instructors to assign students to groups, listen in unobserved, join in when appropriate, talk to an individual student and receive calls from a student - all with a click of a mouse.

Menu and Registration system

The registration system, RegiMe provides summaries for class progress such as total elapsed time, ranking by grade and summaries for each student. Menus and assignments can be customized for selected users and classes. IDs and passwords can be managed as required.

Planner

CAN-8 Lesson Plans are at instructors' fingertips for convenient and easy creation or modification of lesson materials.

Adapt the computer courseware to fit the curriculum, not the other way around. CAN-8 includes an easy authoring system (EAASy II) focused on language instruction. Lessons can be created using sound, text, graphics and video. Templates are provided for 12 different language-learning activities to reduce the steps involved in lesson creation. Text can be linked to sound to focus on keywords, sounds, or sentence structures. Any audio material can be recorded directly from cassette players, CDs, radio and other sources. Pre-packaged course material is also available in a variety of languages.

Incorporating other resources… The menu system can be used to point students directly to other programs, such as internet sites and videos; students can record answers to questions about the material while viewing the site.

Please visit www.can8.com for more on the VirtuLab.