Digital language lab in future for Holmdel district

HOLMDEL — Plans call for township's public school students to use the latest technology to learn a foreign language digitally.

The Holmdel Foundation for Educational Excellence announced at the Oct. 28 Board of Education meeting that the foundation will embark on a fundraising initiative that will bring the Sony Virtuoso all-digital language lab into the district for use by the World Language program.

The digital learning system enables multimedia-based software for teachers and students to share course materials, record conversations and develop language proficiency.

"We are very committed to our mission of enhancing the educational experience of each and every student through innovative programs," said Doreen De- Marco, chairwoman of the Holmdel Foundation for Educational Excellence.

The district offers five different language courses at Holmdel High School and the William R. Satz School, including Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Latin and French. Introductory Spanish is also taught at Village School and Indian Hill.

Once implemented, the digital language lab will be used district-wide.

"This unanimous decision was made by the foundation following many discussions with school administrators and faculty from all levels, as well as conducting our own independent research," DeMarco said.

The introduction of the World Language Lab aligns with three of Holmdel's 2009-10 district goals: enhancing and enriching the World Language Program, integrating technology into instruction, and continuing with opportunities for differentiated instruction.

Kevin Balz, assistant principal at Holmdel High School, recognized the need for a world language lab in the district based on a transitioning learning environment in the linguistics field.

"World languages have changed over the last 10 years, and the emphasis now is on meaningful conversation," Balz said. "They want you to be able to go to another country and interact with other people and be able to carry on a conversation. That's the focus, so it's really shifted."

Prior to Balz's arrival in Holmdel, he was the force behind the execution and installation of the world language lab at Rumson-Fair Haven High School.

The program was also implemented at the Ranney School in Tinton Falls.

"His knowledge and expertise, as well as his contacts, will prove priceless as we go through the process of building our lab," DeMarco said.

The foundation has chosen the world language lab as a gift initiative because students are preparing to enter a competitive and global economic marketplace, DeMarco explained.

"It will better prepare our students for college, given that many universities now have language requirements built into their degree programs," DeMarco said. "It will enhance our students' education by making them more marketable should they choose to enter directly into a quickly evolving, global workforce upon graduation."

The district's current methods for fulfilling state-mandated foreign language core curriculum requirements for high school graduation are outlined in the N.J. Department of Education (DOE) CCCS guidelines.

According to the 2009 revised standards, world language content is both linguistic and cultural, and includes personal and social topics and concepts as well as ideas from other content areas.

In keeping with the district's high academic achievement record, members of the foundation said they want to encourage students to learn beyond the basic Department of Education requirements.

"Every child in Holmdel will have access to this going through the school system, said Superintendent Barbara Duncan. "It's a wonderful thing to look forward to and it will benefit us all."

Balz explained the program captures audio and includes comparative recording, peer review and teacher assessment.

"What you can do with the audio is what's unique to the lab," Balz said. "Every time you see a student with a headset on, they can both listen and talk. Whatever they record is saved on the network server."

When the students become seniors, the upperclassmen can go back and compare their progression through the years.

"It allows them to build a digital portfolio," Balz said.

By using the software, audio and video files are pushed out to the student's desktop once they are finished working.

Additionally, the teacher can control all the student computers from the workstation to assist, instruct and organize the lesson.

"The teacher can speak to the whole class at one time through the headset sitting at her console," Balz said. "They can speak to an individual student [or] a group of students."

Immediate feedback for students is also available directly through audio.

"The students are able to take multiplechoice tests and it will give them results right away," he said.

The total estimated cost for the program is $150,000, according to the foundation.

"Due to the exceptional nature of this proposed gift, the foundation's commitment is, understandably, conditioned upon first receiving an appropriate endorsement from the Holmdel Board of Education," DeMarco said.

The overall response from the board was positive.

Board member Robin Wetmore was unable to attend the meeting but sent an email to board President Ray Tai to read aloud.

"As a trustee and Board of Education member, I am disappointed I will miss the presentation tonight," Tai read from Wetmore's statement. "I have been involved with the Holmdel Foundation for Educational Excellence decision-making process, and I am excited about the direction they are taking."

However, board member Jim Shelton asked if there are any potential problems with the software.

Balz said all minor technical problems were worked out previously at Rumson- Fair Haven High School.

"When I was researching it for Rumson, I did it in schools that had these, and the common problem that I found … is that there is not enough time to get into the lab," Balz said.

The foundation's annual giving campaign begins on Nov. 1.

"The World Language Initiative is a very different approach for the foundation," said Teresa M. Graw, a member of the foundation. "With the World Language lab, we feel so strongly that it's going to benefit the students so much."