Teaching an online phonetics course: One approach

Abstract

Ohio State offers an on-line graduate-level phonetics course for a three-year on-line MA program in speech-language pathology. It is taught using a combination of available power-point presentations (with embedded lectures), high-quality sound files (for transcription exercises), and weekly video chats (using carmenconnect). The course syllabus is an on-line syllabus (in.html format) created using Adobe Dreamweaver. There are links in the syllabus to all readings and links to useful educational sites for description of speech anatomy and physiology, vocal cord physiology (and dynamics of voicing), x-ray cinematography, and acoustic analysis of speech production. In terms of phonetic transcription, students move from relatively easy consonant and vowel transcription (using recorded nonsense words) through narrow transcription using a series of graded downloadable transcription exercises. Students download free phonetic fonts from the internet (and they can use on-line browser-based programs like ipa.typeit). The final two-three weeks of the course involves spectrographic analysis (using programs that are free online including PRAAT, Speech Analyzer 3.1, and Wasp). One of the more challenging issues is to determine programs that will work on both Windows and/or Apple computers) and the first week is dedicated to addressing technology issues. Examples of all materials will be presented.Ohio State offers an on-line graduate-level phonetics course for a three-year on-line MA program in speech-language pathology. It is taught using a combination of available power-point presentations (with embedded lectures), high-quality sound files (for transcription exercises), and weekly video chats (using carmenconnect). The course syllabus is an on-line syllabus (in.html format) created using Adobe Dreamweaver. There are links in the syllabus to all readings and links to useful educational sites for description of speech anatomy and physiology, vocal cord physiology (and dynamics of voicing), x-ray cinematography, and acoustic analysis of speech production. In terms of phonetic transcription, students move from relatively easy consonant and vowel transcription (using recorded nonsense words) through narrow transcription using a series of graded downloadable transcription exercises. Students download free phonetic fonts from the internet (and they can use on-line browser-based programs like ipa.typeit...