APPRAISALWEB: an online platform for the pedagogical evaluation of Web-based Language Learning Resources

Abstract

[EN] This paper presents APPRAISALWeb, a 2-year Research & Development project jointly funded by the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia and the regional government of Valencia (Spain), and developed by the CAMILLE Research Group at that university. In general terms, the project aims to suggest a comprehensive methodology for the pedagogical analysis of the Web as an environment for language learning. More specifically, a major objective of the project is to develop an online interactive platform that serves as a tool to analyze, classify and evaluate Web-based resources for language learning from a pedagogical point of view. As CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) research literature suggests, it is necessary to conduct a thorough pedagogical analysis of the Web and its CALL resources if we are to take full advantage of its many possibilities. Thus, the project meets two fundamental needs that have been extensively expressed in the area of CALL: the need for theoretical models and methodologies and the necessity of specific tools for analysing and searching for available Web-based CALL resources. First, the context of the project will be presented. Then the methodology behind APPRAISALWeb will be discussed. Finally, conclusions will be drawn from work in progress during the first stage of the project. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.