The majority of my EFL work and therefore what I feel most comfortable in working my artefact around is exam preperation, specifically the IELTS test. I too would like to produce something where collaboration is a key aspect of the learning experience.
So as to keep the focus narrow, I wanted to focus on one aspect of the test which potential users of the artefact might enjoy/find attractive approaching in a collaborative manner. Task 1 in the writing section involves the description of a set of data, often represented in a chart, table, graph etc. I'd like to provide a learning environment where people could work together to create a text description of the data as required in the test.
This environment would be replete, naturally, with the data representation and the rubric as generally set out in the IELTS test and some key vocabulary that could be used in its description. Their task would be to look up the vocab if necessary in order to use it appropriately, decide on the structure, tense, information to be included together and together typing out a 2-3 paragraph piece of text. In addition to this I felt that this could be recorded as a video and made available to future students via YouTube etc. The data could be changed on a weekly basis with the videos of previous attempts then made available.
My fears and concerns mainly revolve around the software that I'd have to use to create this environment and then make it user-friendly/intuitive and considerations of whether this is already available. In relation to the software, this is part of what drew my to this module as I thought I would be forced to become au fait with the kind of applications I'd like to use in the future professionally.
The theme for this I'm rather unsure of. It's possibly Inclusive as the online environment makes this kind of study available to people that can't physically get together in a classroom. This type of collaborative approach to writing a Task 1 answer is no new approach in a bricks and mortar establishment but people in more rural areas or are housebound don't have the option. However, if it is a new online approach to studying IELTS it could also be Innovation. The format would be Activity/Workshop.
I have no title as yet. Thoughts, suggestions, ridicule would be welcomed.