Action Research in language teacher education in the area of CALL (Keynote address)
Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is still an emergent area, and many teachers are daunted by the choice and diversity in terms of technologies, pedagogies and research approaches (Stockwell 2012). As teachers using CALL we need to continue to develop our skills; reflecting on what we do and getting learners involved in finding out what works and what does not work plays an important role in this (Hampel & Stickler 2015).
This keynote presentation will focus on action research as a tool for teaching professionals to explore their practice in relation to the use of CALL. Action research has the potential to empower teachers by helping them to reflect on their own as well as their learners' behaviour and to understand institutional conditions for learning and teaching. it can contribute to individual, institutional and community change by improving the learners' experience, impacting on curriculum development and supporting teachers' own professional development.
The presentation will start with an introduction to action research and the action research cycle (Kemmis & McTaggart, 2000; Lewin, 1946). We will then examine its relevance for language teacher education in CALL and explore its links with participatory research. Finally, we will consider various challenges around using new technologies for language learning and teaching that could benefit from action research and discuss some example studies to see its scope.
Using ICT to support language learning and teaching (workshop)
Regine Hampel (Professor of Open and Distance Language Learning, The Open University)This workshop will focus on the needs of teachers and teacher trainers regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the language classroom. Based on the belief that technology and pedagogy need to be integrated, we will explore various tools and activities that can be used with students as well as with teacher trainees, reflect on techniques for integrating ICT tools in the language classroom, and share experiences and ideas. Part of the workshop will be based on materials and tools published as a result of the project Developing Online Teaching Skills, funded by the European Centre for Modern Languages (see http://dots.ecml.at/, http://moodle.dots.ecml.at/). The workshop will also draw on some of the work brought together in a recently published book (Hampel, R. and Stickler, U. (eds.) (2015) Developing Online Language Teaching: Research-Based Pedagogies and Reflective Practices, Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan).
Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is still an emergent area, and many teachers are daunted by the choice and diversity in terms of technologies, pedagogies and research approaches (Stockwell 2012). As teachers using CALL we need to continue to develop our skills; reflecting on what we do and getting learners involved in finding out what works and what does not work plays an important role in this (Hampel & Stickler 2015).
This keynote presentation will focus on action research as a tool for teaching professionals to explore their practice in relation to the use of CALL. Action research has the potential to empower teachers by helping them to reflect on their own as well as their learners' behaviour and to understand institutional conditions for learning and teaching. it can contribute to individual, institutional and community change by improving the learners' experience, impacting on curriculum development and supporting teachers' own professional development.
The presentation will start with an introduction to action research and the action research cycle (Kemmis & McTaggart, 2000; Lewin, 1946). We will then examine its relevance for language teacher education in CALL and explore its links with participatory research. Finally, we will consider various challenges around using new technologies for language learning and teaching that could benefit from action research and discuss some example studies to see its scope.
Using ICT to support language learning and teaching (workshop)
Regine Hampel (Professor of Open and Distance Language Learning, The Open University)This workshop will focus on the needs of teachers and teacher trainers regarding the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the language classroom. Based on the belief that technology and pedagogy need to be integrated, we will explore various tools and activities that can be used with students as well as with teacher trainees, reflect on techniques for integrating ICT tools in the language classroom, and share experiences and ideas. Part of the workshop will be based on materials and tools published as a result of the project Developing Online Teaching Skills, funded by the European Centre for Modern Languages (see http://dots.ecml.at/, http://moodle.dots.ecml.at/). The workshop will also draw on some of the work brought together in a recently published book (Hampel, R. and Stickler, U. (eds.) (2015) Developing Online Language Teaching: Research-Based Pedagogies and Reflective Practices, Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan).