A Video Annotation Tool for Students toObserve Language Activities
Masaya YAMAGUCHINational Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics

Background Group Observation & Evaluation Activities in Classroomspresentation exercise, role-play discussion exercise (with "Fishbowl" method)

Step1: discussion & observation

Step3: evaluation(reflection)observers

Step2: discussion & observation
observersrole
reversal
2evaluate discussions
by sharing the results of theobservations

Background Problems
In Step3, Students can not refer to real activities.
Step1: discussion & observation

Step3: evaluation(reflection)observers

Step2: discussion & observation
observers

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It is difficult for students• to explain their opinions
referring to real activities.
• to compare their opinions
each other.

Background Problems
Teachers can not watch all exercises because the exercises aredone in parallel.
Step1: discussion & observationteacherobservers

Step2: discussion & observation
observers

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It is difficult for teachers
to provide feedback tostudents.

Background Solutions

Using real-time video annotation in the observations
 Providing support to use the annotations in the evaluations


Step1: discussion & observation

video annotation

supportto use theannotations

observers

Step2: discussion & observation
observers5

Step3: evaluation(reflection)

feedbackVideo Annotation Tool "FishWatchr"
 FishWatchr is under developmentcurrent version: 0.92
 http://www2.ninjal.ac.jp/lrc/(The file server is down now. It will be up on Monday.)

the specification may be changed.

 The Characteristic of FishWatchr= Design for classroom use
 3 annotation modes support of group activities easy introduction into classes

6Demonstration

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Demonstration

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Video Annotation Tool "FishWatchr"
 FishWatchr is under developmentcurrent version: 0.92
 http://www2.ninjal.ac.jp/lrc/(The file server is down now. It will be up on Monday.)

the specification may be changed.

 The Characteristic of FishWatchr

similar systems(ELAN, studiocode, ...)= Design for classroom use
professional use
 3 annotation modes support of group activities easy introduction into classes

9Annotation Mode:Real-time Annotation (Video recording) Students put annotations on real activities recording onvideo
Observation Step

• The annotation data will be
synchronized with the video
data manually.
• support for real-timeannotation• simple operation• keyboard shortcuts

manualsynchronization
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Annotation Mode:
Real-time Annotation (Sound recording) Students put annotations on real activities in real-time

recording the sounds
Observation Step11

• This mode will be usedwhen• students show reluctanceto be recorded on video• there are not enoughvideo equipment

Annotation Mode: Playback Annotation
 Students put annotations on video
Observation Step

video files
on local PCs

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streaming video
on network• Students can observe activities
in the ways they wantunlike real-time annotation .
• The videos are used as teachingmaterials.
• home work
• pre-exercise before realactivities

Support of Group Activities (1/2)
 Merging annotation dataTo merge annotation files, students only place them in a folder.

Observation Step

Evaluation Step(b)(a)

13(a)(c)

Shared folders, Storage services (e.g. Dropbox), USB memory
sticks are useful for copying annotation files to a PC.

Supports of Group Activities (2/2)
 Displaying results of annotations in different views
 Statement Types

 Speakers

opnqes

sp1
sp2

mg

sp3

sp4
nod

sp4

cnf

00:00

time(min)opiniondiscussion management
confirmation
1400:30

00:00

time(min)00:30

Easy Introduction into Classes
 FishWatchr works on multiple platforms(Windows, Mac OS X, Linux ...)
 FishWatchr is installable into USB memory sticks including

video files and results of annotations
 FishWatchr is not a Web-based system but a standalonesystemreasons maintaining the server
 network problems(uploading time and dropping frames of video files)

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Summary and Future Plans
 FishWatchr is a video annotation tool, which is designed forclassroom use
3 annotation modes support of group activities
 Easy introduction into classes
 Future PlansIntroduction into a real classroom

we prepare for discussion exercises in a university classCollaborations with other projects
Support of teachers' reflection on their teaching Analysis of group activities⇒ the related workshop will be held in Japan in January 2016

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