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Sessions /
JALTCALL Forum #1318

Sat, May 15, 13:00-14:30 JST | Zoom 11
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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.

Presentation Assets

Google Doc for the JALTCALL Forum

Please go to this URL: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bYfx0j7s4SNJqYYuEkIRNEkW55sGko0ZI1ezCv078HM/edit?usp=sharing

Erin Noxon

Erin Noxon

Sagano High School
I've got a Dr. on my name, I'm a Google Certified Innovator, and I teach at Sagano High School in Kyoto. Let's see... I've taught communicative English, life science, integrated science, CLIL science, global studies, and Tech and Media skills during 17+ years of teaching in public schools in the US and Japan. I love doing EdTech professional development (PD) and I am researching EdTech PD, blended learning, and public school EdTech environments. Find me @tesolgeek on Twitter.
Julia Christmas

Julia Christmas

University of Niigata Prefecture
Julia Christmas is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of International Economics and member of the International Exchange Center Steering Committee at the University of Niigata Prefecture. Her research interests include Content and Language Integrated Learning, Academic Writing in CLIL settings, International Education, and Professional Development for in-service Japanese Teachers of English. Contact email: jchristm@unii.ac.jp
John M. Gayed

John M. Gayed

Tokyo Institute of Technology
Currently researching the potential to use an AI-based writing assistant for second language learners at Cross lab. Little research has been done on how these systems affect L2 writing output and the researcher believes these systems will be as prevalent as spell-checking/grammar checking systems that were first developed more than thirty years ago. He plans to develop these tools to assist English Language Learners (ELLs) overcome the various cognitive barriers they face when they attempt to produce written text in English. The researcher is developing the AI system based on Open AI’s GPT-2 language model. The expected outcome of the research is that AI-based writing assistants can improve students' writing fluency.
Oliver Rose

Oliver Rose

Kwansei Gakuin University
Originally from Australia, Oliver Rose has taught EFL in Japan for 15 years and currently teaches at Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo, Japan. His special interests are in TELL (Technology Enhanced Language Learning) and materials design, especially for providing intensive productive language practice.