Sessions

JALTCALL Forum

The theme of our JALTCALL conference in June 2021 is “Remote Teaching and Beyond”, so today we will be talking about different aspects of technology in the classroom that helped us during COVID and we think we will use into the future as well. We will try to convey how we used these technologies and ideas and how everyone can use these skills in their own practices into the future. Our speakers today are, in speaking order: > Julia Christmas and Dr. Reiko Ishii - Using Online International Student Exchange to Boost Mobility During and Post-COVID-19 > John Maurice Gayed - AIKAKU and AI in education > Oliver Rose - Using the LingoLab web apps for online phrase-level practice During the forum today, we will each be speaking for around 20 minutes and then we will have time for questions. Below are brief descriptions of our topics. If you have questions for us during the talks, please type in the shared Google Doc so that we can answer your questions during Q&A time! Julia Christmas and Dr. Reiko Ishii - Using Online International Student Exchange to Boost Mobility During and Post-COVID-19 Description: International student exchange is both beneficial and desirable. Various forms of long or short-term exchange have become a staple of universities and many high schools in Japan. Prior to the interruptions caused by the pandemic, exchange possibilities were often taken for granted and individual barriers, financial or otherwise were often not a pressing consideration. The presentation will discuss the issue of inequality in mobility that has been a longstanding issue but can now be more easily addressed by creating mingling and exchange opportunities online. The presenters will offer examples of student exchange that took place between their school and students at partner schools across borders despite travel restrictions. In addition, the presenters will argue that online student exchange programs give stakeholders a way to level the playing field for students who lack mobility in the post-COVID-19 era and should be encouraged even after regular on-the-ground exchanges become possible again. John Maurice Gayed - AIKAKU and AI in education Description: This presentation will introduce the development of an AI-based writing application with potential use for English as a foreign/second language (EFL/ESL) classrooms. The researcher is developing the tool to assist English language learners (ELLs) overcome the cognitive barriers they face when they attempt to produce written text in English. Research into the development and use of these tools has been lacking. While there has been much research and discussion on Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) technologies or older technologies such as spell check and grammar check, there are few studies utilizing AI in education. This presentation will cover the development of the application, its basic framework and potential issues with using artificial intelligence technologies in the classroom. Oliver Rose - Using the LingoLab web apps for online phrase-level practice Description: The free LingoLab sentence-building activity will be introduced, showing modes for self-study, testing & a live quiz game. This activity format has learners respond to questions (in text, audio &/or picture form) by constructing phrases or sentences. Their progress can be tracked and shared with teachers, who can also make custom sets for use in all modes.