Language Lab 102: Sanako Lab 300 Basics

Sanako Lab 300: Screen sharing, controlling program (Media) sources, Mosaic Thumbnail view of student computers control/collaborate.

Purpose

To introduce the basic concepts of Lab 300 by touring the various components of the interface and by presenting demos of these tools and how they can easily be integrated in foreign language courses. Our ultimate goal is to get SWS instructors to feel comfortable with the interface and to entice them to explore Lab 300 further.

Purpose

To introduce the primary functions of Sanako Lab 300 by touring the various components of the interface and by presenting demos of how these tools can easily be integrated in foreign language courses.

What is Sanako Lab 300?

Sanako Lab 300 is a powerful software-driven application that simulates a traditional language lab environment. It gies teachers the tools to make language instruction more dynamic and interactive through pairing, modeling, conferencing, screen-sharing, and other collaborative activities.

Foreign language students need to practice what they learn from the text and in class, and Sanako Lab 300 allows students to do precisely that. Teachers have powerful assessment tools at their fingertips and an array of media sources to showcase media content; audiocassettes, videotapes, digital media, web-based media, international DVDs, satellite television, even plug a digital camera in as an external source.

Sanako Lab 300 is a surprisingly intuitive and easy to learn. Click here for more details.

What is Sanako Media Assistant?

Sanako Media Assistant is the student-side application of Lab 300. It is a voice recorder and digital media player, but perhaps its most important function is to serve as the remote side of the main console. When Lab 300 is running, it is almost always imperative that Media Assistant run simultaneously even if its only running in the background. The reason is that Media Assistant communicates with the main console by sending and receiving electronic signlas, messages, and other commands from the main console to configure the lab.

Language Lab 102 Workshop topics:

• The group conference function
• 'Mosaic' thumbnail view of student computers (control, collaborate)
• Screen sharing
• Program 'media' sources

The WSMC encourages all SWS language instructors to take the initiative to learn more about these instructional tools and resources. Once instructors understand the fundamentals of conducting language labs with Lab 300, they will be motivated to use this system more and more to achieve their own teaching goals.