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ESPRIT
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ESPRIT
ESPRIT
Modern technologies and the increasing flow of information form a basis for constant knowledge
improvement and new teaching methods all over the world.
ESPRIT, developed by ASC, offers a simple but very effective tool for overall communication and
data management in a modern Multi Media environment.
Based on the well known and successful Multi Media Center DI 8, the ESPRIT sets a future
reference standard for an “all digital electronic classroom” when implementing language teaching
via a modern computer networked environment.
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ESPRIT
Ease of operation
Real time intercom
The rapid growth of features and functions offered by the convergence of
various Multi Media language applications requires a powerful, yet easy
to operate Graphical User Interface (GUI) for teacher operation.
The audio network allows unrestricted real time verbal communication
and audio program transfer (copy) at HiFi audio quality. In the ESPRIT
there are no restrictions to the number of conversation pairs, program
groups or intercom activities caused by the speed of the network. The
very high quality of the audio communication (monitor and intercom) is
not degraded by increased load’s as with Local Area Network (LAN)
solutions, which can offer ”mobile phone” quality without the distinction
of (in)correct pronunciation.
The ESPRIT, offers the answer to the age-old demand for pedagogical
sophistication and ease of operation. There is only one single user interface - regardless of whether the teacher wants to communicate via headset
or a video program, a data file (audio or video) to a selected student or
take over the keyboard of a student’s computer.
The ESPRIT GUI offers the following major advantages:
• The ESPRIT shows only the features and functions selected
by the operator.
• The ESPRIT recalls each teacher’s operational preferences (buttons)
when logging on.
• A “Reset” button is provided to normalize all of the parameters
of the system.
• The operating manual is available on-line at the touch of a button.
Unlimited connectivity
It is universally understood that the best way to learn a new language is
to live amongst native speakers. If the process of immersion is not
possible one should look for a method that comes very close to the ideal
solution. This requires the practice of hearing, reading and communicating
in the foreign language. The unique pairing, telephone dialing,
conference and intercom features of the ESPRIT offer almost unlimited
communication facilities.
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ESPRIT
Media Resource Management
Lessons, exercises, tests and other data can be distributed to the students via a LAN
and the student’s responses can be collected for grading or central storage.
Administrative tasks such as deleting student documents or shutting down the
student computers are initiated from the central teacher position. Textual
conversations (chat groups) between the students can be activated by the teacher.
The combination of all forms of class management in one easy to use package offers
instructors a combination hitherto unavailable without any specialized knowledge of
networks.
Complete overview
What you see from your networked computer laboratory is a simple classroom image
with a button for each student position. All the functions each teacher needs for daily
work are easily controlled via the GUI.
A dedicated PC in the network can be designated as the archival (main) server for the
storage of exercises and student work. The exercises are distributed via the server to
the student workplaces. When collecting to the archive-PC the student work is
automatically labeled with the student names for easy identification.
Access control
A reoccurring problem for administrators and teachers is unauthorized access to
sensitive files such as tests or student’s “digital workbooks”. The ESPRIT application
accesses only a dedicated zone on the hard disc of the students’ computers and the
server. Only the teacher can remotely erase the student work files in this zone
centrally from the teacher console. The teacher can also shut down all student’s PC’s,
or a group of the student’s PC’s, remotely without having to shut down each student
computer individually at each student station. Applications can be started remotely and
documents can be opened from the teacher PC. The remote activities are offered on
a total class or on a specific group basis, as teacher can divide the students within the
classroom into several groups.
Student workplaces
Audio
Audio
Audio
Control
Control
LAN
Digital data
CCS
Screen, keyboard & mouse
AAC
Audio (programs & conference)
Control
System Ma
Control
and Sup
Authoring-PC
Teacher workplace
Master-PC
Control Unit
Server-PC
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ESPRIT
Communication has got a new definition – ESPRIT
System updates and expansion.
The ESPRIT provides many new and pedagogically innovative
communication training tools with an ”OVER THE LAN” messaging system
(chat room), allowing students to send short text messages to each other.
The telephone dialing mode allows students to “telephone” each other
and engage in live conversations. Caller ID and three/four way
conversations are possible. The students’ conversations can be recorded
along with a text document (to compile a digital student workbook).
As your teaching needs change and our present technology advances the
ESPRIT´s modular design allows for ease of expansion to a higher level
of functionality via hardware and software upgrades.
All the functions can be run in the background of other applications whilst
the user interface offers a simple panel with control buttons, which is
less confusing for the teacher and students.
Communication is the key
The AA (Audio Active) Panel is the link between the audio network and
the student PC, providing an audio and a control connection to the
teacher position.
The student computers are fitted with the D.A.V.I.D. (Digital Audio Video
Interactive Device) program, which can replay video and audio files and
acts as an “all-digital” replacement for an analog student cassette recorder.
The virtual recorder on the student PC can be remotely controlled via the
AA panel from the teacher position in the same way as a cassette
recorder. Teachers can remotely control the “all-digital” virtual recorder
without the need of a LAN and the optional didactical network
(CSS = Computer Supervisory System) is linked between the instructor
console, and the student PC, it’s monitor, keyboard and mouse. The
system does not require the user to open the PC – which could result in
loss of warranty claims. The didactical network consists of professional
external interfaces, which utilize high quality and high bandwidth cable.
Major communication features of the ESPRIT:
• Transfer of any type of digital document.
• Group-oriented work
• Remotely opening documents with their assigned application
(third party software)
• Remote launch of third party applications
• Remote erase of digital documents
• Remote shutdown of the student workstations
• Locking student workstations
• Simple messaging system for textual messages
• Chat mode within all group members or in telephone mode with
selected partners
• User registration at the teacher and student workplaces for student
related documents and/or for keeping records of user activities
• Operating system for analog recorders, Audio Active panels (Level II),
Virtual Recorders (i.e. D.A.V.I.D.) and networks.
One of the most efficient ways of language learning can be achieved by
the student listening and pronouncing the foreign language and by communication with speakers of the target language. The audio network of
the ESPRIT offers a variety of conversation groups and conversational
paths for the distribution of audio while the computer classroom system
allows monitoring and control of any PC in the classroom.
Transparent operation
The system is simplified by displaying only the function buttons which
the instructor has requested to work with, whilst the simplicity oriented
user interface allows a simple and intuitive handling of different actions
in several groups at the same time.
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ESPRIT
The Teachers Authoring Package
The new Teacher Authoring Package (TAP) file
manager allows the teacher to generate lessons for
students. A TAP-document is a script for the presentation of several instructional components in a given
order. The working time can be fixed for the complete
lesson or for every single part of it. The teacher can
decide if the student should be controlled in a lockstep fashion, thus dictating the pace of the lesson, or
allow the student to set his own pace through the
lesson (independent study). TAP lessons can contain
a variety of components such as:
• Teacher comments or instructions
• Listen-respond (drill) exercises
• Simultaneous interpretation exercises
• Automated web page access
• Automated application launch
• Multiple choice response analysis
• Time limit setting for the complete lesson or each
individual exercise
• Free navigation within a lesson or “lock – step”
test mode, for operation in a set and timed order
• Multiple choice exercises with visual and audible
subtitles
• Three answer types in multiple choice mode: one
or more correct answers out of a set of answers,
or independent expression of a textual answer
Take advantage of approved material
If you have a lot of learning material on analog tapes
the Digitizer would assist you by converting the analog
sound to digital files. It takes only one step to convert a pre-existing audio file to a completely digital
file. In three additional short steps you can create a
TAP-document with several question/response
blocks.
To supplement the new Teacher Authoring Package
ASC provides the D.A.V.I.D. Master and Audio Digitizer
allowing the teacher to create multi media lessons
from video clips, audio files, records, pictures, text
and digital documents.
Easy preparation of lessons and exercises
TAP lessons can be prepared quickly with little training
or need for programming skills. It’s easy to convert
your analog tapes to digital files, which can be stored
in the network server for quick and easy access.
Designing your own multi media lessons, using
common types of documents without being restricted
to a single lesson media content is easy.
The D.A.V.I.D. Master is the art director, combining all
the different multi media components to one fascinating and motivating learning event. All you need is
the D.A.V.I.D. Master and the various multi media
content. The TAP file lessons can be generated easily
and professionally without any programming skills
required.
Summary
• A simple to use authoring tool for digital
exercises and automatic editing from analog sources
• Open architecture with the integration of all
major document standards (wav-audio, avi- and
mpeg-video, MP3 etc.), as well as browsing in
third-party documents with their third-party
applications
• Integration of the internet and the HTML file format
Virtual Recorder
The D.A.V.I.D. (Digital Audio Video Interactive Device)
is the virtual recorder that records and replays digital
audio and video files using the hard disk of the
computer. Any other digital information is displayed
by opening the document related application. The
integration of Internet browsing and multiple-choice
lessons extends the possibilities for modern teaching
and increases student motivation.
An easy to use student interface.
The clearly arranged interface offers a good overview
and a quick access to the exercises. The symbols and
functionality of the control buttons are similar to
those of a CD player at home and therefore easily
understood. The D.A.V.I.D. displays separate volume
controls for the master and the student channels,
which are shown on the student computer screen.
The D.A.V.I.D program can be minimized to enable
use of other applications (such as video and text)
while still controlling the main record and replay
functions.
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Quick access
Ready for the Internet
Any position in the digitally recorded lesson can be reached in a split
second with one mouse click. For quick access to sections or sentences the
channel activity display eases navigation whilst the display shows a voice
graph in amplitude format for the visual indication of phrases. A direct
comparison between the instructor’s stimulus and the student’s response
is also possible via the display. Areas within the lesson to which the
student wishes to return to can be accessed with up to 39 bookmarks and
the A-B-Repeat feature makes automatic sentence or phrase
repetition easy.
Full featured, multi media exercises utilizing the replay of digital video is
as easy as browsing on the Internet. To simplify the process further, the
operation of the D.A.V.I.D. program uses the locally installed Internet
browser. Accessing the Internet as part of a multi media exercise in the
ASC-internal TAP-format is a unique and motivating feature for students.
All sections of such an exercise are shown clearly in the lesson status bar.
Combination with analog systems
As part of the ESPRIT audio network, the “all-digital” D.A.V.I.D. offers the
same functionality as the DI 8 cassette recorder with an even more comfortable interface. D.A.V.I.D. controls the Response Analyzer or allows the
selection of partners in the telephone dialing mode. Both the virtual and the
analog recorder, can be used within the same laboratory (i.e. a hybrid lab).
SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS
• Simultaneous work and program transfer in independent groups
• Transfer any student screen to all the other members of a group
• Any kind of grouping of students for conversation in conference,
telephone and pairing groups
• Transfer the teacher’s screen to all students or the members of a group
• Unobtrusive monitoring of students (with individual monitor and
automatic monitor mode)
• Multiple connections for external sources, such as Mini Disc, DVD,
laser disk, satellite or CD-ROM
• Independent operation or full integration into the analog language
lab system
• Fully integrated into the digital media resource management of the
ESPRIT – an easy transition from analog to digital
• Simple operation using audio and video files
• Complete remote control of the student’s working environment
individually or by group
• Channel activity display (voice graph) with visual indication of phrases
for quick access
• Response Analyzer (four group operable) for multiple choice exercises
• Reviewing any student computer screen, irrespective of the lesson
they are assigned to or if they are connected to the World Wide Web
• Real training mode with (ASC internal) TAP-documents including
announcement, question/response, translation, video playback, Internet,
external document browsing and multiple choice response analysis
• Remote control of any student’s mouse and keyboard
• Quick navigation within an exercise by simple mouse clicks
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Partnership and Integration
World Headquarters
ASC forms partnerships with other companies to ensure continued development of
innovative Multi Media Solutions and to integrate effectively and efficiently with all major
industry standards. Additionally, ASC researches future trends in Teaching Technology to
maintain a leadership role in the market.
ASC telecom AG
Seibelstrasse 4
63768 Hösbach, Germany
Phone
+49 6021 50010
Fax
+49 6021 500117
E-mail
hq@asctelecom.com
Consulting and Project Management
Great Britain
Quality consulting ensures a successful relationship with any customer and ASC’s
competence and know- how allows them to tailor individual solutions. Mutually agreed
requirement specifications and a flexible management guarantees the final success of the
overall project while professional services guide the customer through initial product
introduction and provides long-term training and support.
Manufacturing and Quality Assurance
Since 1996, ASC has certified its Quality management system and staff training according
to ISO 9001 (certificate #12 100 7028). ASC maintains spare parts for almost every
product manufactured over 15 years, substantially exceeding the statutory requirement of
other countries.
Why ASC ?
ASC has been providing language teaching solutions and Multi Media systems around the
world for over 35 years. A public company since January 1998, ASC has the engineering
resources, worldwide distribution, and financial stability to support your education
institute now and well into the new millennium. Our development team is dedicated to
providing continuous improvements to ESPRIT, developing new applications, and leveraging new technology trends and breakthroughs. We continually add and refine technology to
strengthen our solutions and insure total customer satisfaction.
ASC telecom Ltd., Unit 2
Westerham Trade Centre
London Road, Westerham
Kent TN16 1DE
Phone
+44 1959 562255
Fax
+44 1959 562545
E-mail
gb@asctelecom.com
Switzerland
ASC-Kreutler AG
Grundstrasse 6
6343 Rotkreuz
Phone
+41 41 792 1460
Fax
+41 41 792 1461
E-Mail
info@kreutler.ch
Austria
ASC telecom Vertriebs GmbH
Adlitzerstraße 15
2514 Traiskirchen
Phone
+43 2252 54922
Fax
+43 2252 53487
E-mail
at@asctelecom.com
USA
ASC telecom L.P.
535 Fifth Avenue, Suite 901
New York, NY 10017-3610
Phone
+1 212 557-3200
Fax
+1 212 557-3219
E-mail
info@ascamerica.com
ASC direct Inc.
6900 San Pedro Avenue, Suite 147-315
San Antonio, TX 78216
Phone
+1 800 613-9554
Fax
+1 210 698-2064
E-mail
ascmmedia@aol.com
ESPRIT - E, 06/00
www.asctelecom.com
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