Abstract:

The presentation is based on author's pedagogical experiment with designing and implementing of wiki ESP (English for Special Purposes) course.
Screenshots' slideshow demonstrates some important web pages and features of the wiki site. Author provides some practical advice to e-teachers on how to design such course and use it for collaborative English language teaching online.
Background:
The pedagogical experiment was based on PBWorks (wiki and hosting) as Professional English LMS (Learning Management System). It lasted one semester of 2009 academic year (September-December) and covered two Modules Syllabus only.
Standard Institution Syllabus for face-to-face classes previewed only 2 a.h. once a week per each student group; several intermediate and one final in-class tests per Module. Students' grades and rating system was practiced.
‘Blended’ online Course was based on Standard Institution Syllabus, combining standard ‘paper’ textbooks and regular offline tests with additional online assignments, multimedia and communication on Wiki site between in-class meetings.
Institution and Collaborators:
2 and 3 year Bachelor students at State University-Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Business Informatics Faculty. Four groups of Business Informatics (BI) specialty students studied Business English (BE), and two groups of System Engineering (SE) Department students studied IT English (ITE).
Total number of students involved per teacher - 70, i.e. total random sampling statistically. 68 of all were active Wiki site users. No preliminary technical training on Wiki was held. Students should use their basic, ’school’ Informatics and Internet browsing knowledge to self-studying how to work with Wiki, how to get information, complete assignments online, collaborate with teacher and communicate online on the site.
The conference presentation outlines general features and benefits of ‘Blended” Wiki ESP Course design and, in our opinion, advises simple, fast and efficient ways of how to manage written students’ works posted on one wiki site. There are also examples of how to work together with students on one site, mixing formal academic with informal individual communication between teacher and students. It givesmethodological and pages design advice to teachers.
NOTES: PPT presentation article with the above Wiki Course screenshots is published on http://www.slideshare.net/inaviri/blended-wiki-esp-courses-ppt-article

Keywords:

Blended learning, e-teaching, wiki, ESP, e-learning, collaborative learning, pedagogical innovations, language learning innovations, internet education.