New England Regional Association for Language Learning Technology
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Web 2.0:
Participatory Strategies for Language Learning |
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NERALLT 2007
October 25th-26th Saint Michael's College
Alliot Hall Second Floor, Vermont Room
The Web 2.0 movement: What is it really? Is Web 2.0 just a label applied to various web-based technologies, assembled under a general term for practical reasons or does it signify a new wave of innovation for teaching and learning at large and of languages in particular?
This meeting will examine the scope of the Web 2.0 movement, as well as the theoretical and practical applications of its use in the development of participatory strategies for language learning. According to Sarah Lohnes and Charles Kinzer¹, many of the Web 2.0 components are an integral part of the daily life of a Net Gen student, but strangely enough, they are not always welcome by the same student in a classroom environment. We will address how we can take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies to promote participatory learning, within and outside the classroom, thus expanding the learning environment to the entire (digital) world.
For more information on Web 2.0 visit the NERALLT Website by clicking here.
To take a look at the recent NERALLT newsletter, click here.
This biennial meeting serves as a forum for stimulating and disseminating pedagogical research and practical applications of technology for the teaching and learning of foreign languages, and provides a venue for language technologists and faculty to come together and share new ideas.
Keynote Speaker
In this presentation,"Critically Evaluating the Appeal of 'Web 2.0' Activities for Second Language Learners," John de Szendeffy will address the "Appeal" of web 2.0 for the teaching and learning of second languages. With the word appeal, he means to suggest teachers' assumptions or expectations of what students want in class based on what they have already embraced in their lifestyle outside of class and how this may interfere with a critical evaluation of the pedagogical effectiveness of such activities. He will begin his presentation with a straightforward review of what Web 2.0 is in terms of an evolution of the Internet business model and, more importantly, the user experience and empowerment. Then he will proceed to demonstrate some practical activities for language learners based on Web 2.0 services and the rationale for adopting them.
John de Szendeffy is the Director of Educational Technology at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, Boston University. He has a joint appointment in the BU School of Education to teach a graduate class in Computer-assisted Language Learning and has most recently published A Practical Guide to Using Computers in Language Teaching (University of Michigan Press, 2005). He has taught college ESL and published For Here or To Go: An ESL Reader (University of Michigan Press, 1997). He consults on lab design, implementation, faculty training and does freelance print and web development. He holds an Ed.M. in TESOL from Boston University.
Conference Organizers
| Host: |
John Graves Saint Michael's College Colchester, Vermont |
| Program Chair: |
Audrey Sartiaux Union College Schenectady, New York |
| Planning Committee: |
Audrey Sartiaux, John Graves, Barbara Lindsey University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut |
Contact Information
Questions regarding the program and call for papers should be sent to the Program Chair: Audrey Sartiaux (sartiaua@union.edu), Director of the Language Center, Union College.
For information about Saint Michael’s college, please go to: http://www.smcvt.edu
For more information regarding NERALLT, and to become a member, please go to: http://www.nerallt.unh.edu
Saint Michael's College
October 25-26, 2007