WAY BEYOND DRILL AND PRACTICE: FOREIGN LANGUAGE LAB ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF CONSTRUCTIVIST LEARNING.

As preference for a learning model has changed from a behaviorist approach to a cognitive approach to modern constructivist approaches, the field of instructional technology has evolved as well, following the needs of the teaching-learning process. Although many activities offered by foreign language labs are part of traditional language lab practice (that is, drill and practice formats), modern technology offers many possibilities which support current learning theory. This paper will provide a brief overview of the evolution of instructional technology as it has followed the evolution of learning theory, and look at examples of how modern technology may be used in foreign language labs to fit the constructivist learning approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]