Reflection: Tasks with CALL

I'll be up front about this week's topic:  I liked it quite a bit.  I think tasks are a good approach for language teaching in general, and also a good approach for deciding whether or not to incorporate technology and if so, which technology.  So you found a potentially super cool CALL resource?  Ok, does it fit into a task that addresses student language needs?  If yes, proceed.  If no, do not pass go, do not collect $200.  File it away for later.

I thought DuBravac did a very nice job summarizing task based instruction (TBI), especially bringing activity theory into the discussion.  Framework for that theory is as follows:

1. Hierarchical structure:  there should be a clear structure of actions to accomplish a goal
2. Object-oriented:  there should be a meaningful goal
3. Internalization/Externalization:  the task should provide opportunities to internalize language features (e.g. grammatical forms, vocabulary) and externalize language (producing a podcast, discussing procedure in a group activity, etc)
4. Development:  tasks drive assessment, and frequent formative assessments help learners evaluate their progress toward a goal
5.  Mediation:  tasks should require mediation via the tool, which is language

Number 5 really struck a chord with me, especially in the context of CALL.  Language is always the primary tool, not the technology.  If technology overshadows language to complete the task, there's a problem with your task.  Just for a hypothetical example, let's say you design a really poor task where students must individually create a Flash animation of their last vacation.  Aside from listening to your directions and possibly navigating English menus in the Flash software, the object of the task could end up requiring very little language use compared to the time spent tweaking keyframes, drawing characters and objects, and so on.  This sort of task would aslo fail criteria 3 and 4 as well.  Making it a group project and requiring voice narration for the animation would be a major step in the right direction.