Development of CALL

Answer the following question in your blog in about one paragraph long. Provide examples.

What factors influence the development of language learning using the computer over more than 50 years?

Using computer for language learning has gone through a series of development over more than 50 years. The development can be influenced by a few factors, which of those is the emergence of new theories or approaches that have constantly been reviewed and have given positive impacts on the language learning. The theories that emerged occurred in 3 different phases, which the first was Behavioristic (1960s), Communicative (1970s-1980s), and Integrative (in the late 1980s onwards). Behavioristic CALL was  developed from the behaviorist/structural theories of learning which was conceived in 1950s and implemented in the 1960s. In Behavioristic Call, learning is broken into smaller chunks and learners are drilled to mastery before moving on to the next level. This idea was based on Skinner's argument that learning can be accomplished if the content is broken into small, incremental steps, and if learners get immediate feedback, reinforcement and reward. This means that Behavioristic CALL focuses on drilling and the use of punishment and reward to cause a change in behavior, in which punishment is seen as a consequence that causes a behavior to occur less frequently and rewards to cause a behavior to occur with greater frequency. Skinner's Operant Conditioning however received objections which argued that drilling would kill learning enthusiasm and that it should build on intrinsic motivation and should foster interactivity. Hence, a new theory was developed as to improve the previous theory. The second theory was Communicative CALL, which was based on Communicative approach to teaching (CLT) which was prominent in the 1970s and 1980s. Different from Behavioristic CALL, Communicative CALL emphasized on interaction as both the means and the ultimate goal of language learning. Unlike Behavioristic CALL, Communicative CALL does not evaluate nor reward (congratulatory messages, etc.), but instead, it focuses more on using the forms taught than explicitly teaches the grammar content. In this approach, computers play 3 significant roles, which are as the tutor/teacher, stimulus that stimulates critical thinking, and a tool to use and understand language. Although it has a lot of advantages, Communicative CALL was criticized for a few reasons, which include the computer being used in an ad hoc and disconnected fashion and that a more integrative ways of teaching was demanded by the educators. Thus, another phase emerged, which is the Integrative CALL, in which the integrative approaches are developed based on 2 important technological developments, that are multimedia and electronic communication. Integrative CALL is seen to contribute to effective language learning experience as it provides more authentic learning environments in which learners learn language by listening while seeing, and students are given the autonomy to control their learning at their own pace. However, similar to other approaches developed before, Integrative CALL can also be disadvantageous for learners as the computer programs are not intelligent enough to be truly interactive because they are unable to understand speakers' spoken input nor can they evaluate the appropriateness of utterances. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) also can contribute to effective language learning experience. In examples such as asynchronous emails and synchronous chat, CMC that occurs allow users to share important documents, graphics, sounds, and video, facilitates collaborative writing that can enhance learners' language learning, and most importantly it helps learners to improve their speaking, listening, and reading skills. As Integrative CALL is seen to benefit learners for their language learning, it has been further developed since then and now Web 2.0 has become the current phase in CAL. Tools such as blogs, social networking sites, podcasts, and video creation apps are developed and have been utilized in language learning as to facilitate and enhance learners' language learning experience.