- 3.1 How do you choose which inputs to test?
- 3.1.1 Identify and Explain Comprehensible Input per Index
Immersio’s IMCI methodology contains the concept of “comprehensible input”, which simply means that your intended learners should be able to understand each word, phrase, or grammar/cultural concept through context ideally, and explanation as needed. So, depending on who the course is intended for, you need to identify which items will be included as vocabulary, or as phrases, or as a grammar or perhaps cultural note deserving more explanation.
It’s not required that every lesson have all three, but best practice is to have all three in some form throughout a given course..
- 3.1.2. Provide each input
For each input, you are to provide the text for the input itself, the text for the explanation, and media. With Immersio you have the option of images, audio, and video. At a minimum you must provide the audio for each input. For images you may search for non-copyrighted and shareable images, such as many found with a wiki license. And for videos you may produce “Lipspeak” videos where you zoom in on the face or mouth of a someone pronouncing the input.
- 3.2 How do I choose which drills to use?
- 3.2.1 Vocabulary Best Practices
All the inputs identified in a given lesson should be drilled several times, and ideally in different ways. For vocabulary, the most appropriate drills may be multiple choice, flash cards, and drag and drop. For multiple choice drills, consider providing at least 4 choices, with at least 2 not obviously wrong. For flash cards, a main benefit is getting the learner to actively spell the word. And for drag and drop, in most cases simply assigning all vocabulary with media works well.
- 3.2.2 Phrases Best Practices
As with vocabulary, each phrase input identified should be drilled. For phrases, the most appropriate drills may be multiple choice and drag the words. For multiple choice consider describing the situation where the phrase is appropriate, and for drag the words consider creating sentences similar, but not identical, to those found in the dialog.
- 3.2.3 Grammar Best Practices
Again, all the grammar inputs identified should be drilled. For grammar, the most appropriate ones may be sort the paragraph and listen and fill in the boxes. For sort the paragraph consider creating situations similar, but not identical, to those found in the dialog. And for listen and fill in the boxes, a primary benefit will be reviewing lines of the dialog (or similar) with context and active listening.
- 3.4. How do I review the lesson?
When creating courses, especially a first draft, ensuring proper quality is essential. So, after you have completed steps 1, 2, and 3, consider previewing the lesson before publishing it on your list of courses. You would do well to do at least two run throughs. For the first run-through consider making any revisions necessary in case you perceive any gaps in knowledge. And for the second run-though consider checking that all media and text are of good quality and that there are no clerical or editorial mistakes. After this you can feel confident submitting the course for publication.
