We began investigating current systems on the market, but, of course, aware that there remains a real question of need here for such a Language Lab. They do, however, use other technology facilities in classrooms in the language building. Such classrooms have quality audio and video technology, and each day some 30 classes use these specially designed areas. Again, it is only one small program, ELP, that constitues any significant use of the Lab for classroom purposes. Although we suggest that the Departments rarely teach in the Lab, we also must say that they want the facility to exist in some form.
Students do obtain the lessons on tape and do use that material, though few use it in the Lab.
Saying this, does not mean that we don't require the facilities offered by a Language Lab, for we most certainly do. It occurred to us, when working on another project of building a gopher and World-Wide Web system for the Center for Computer Analysis of Texts that these quickly developing network tools could form a Virtual Language Lab on the InterNet. Such an idea seemed intriguing to consider since the local InterNet called PennNet was being extended to every dorm room and even into the adjacent areas off-campus. Moreover with the development of InterNet tools accessible over phone lines students off campus would have easy access to material distributed through a gopher or even Mosaic. They could listen to their audio lessons on a computer, and with appropriate public-domain software even record responses that could be shipped back to the instructor using Internet tools.