Greg Kessler, Professor of Instructional Technology at the Patton College of Education, Ohio University, United States. Editor of the CALICO Equinox book series, Advances in CALL Practice & Research.

Title: Innovation and the future of language teaching

Abstract:

The presenter will share his thoughts about the changing nature of language teaching in relation to technological and pedagogical innovations. He will focus on the importance of designing instructional experiences that harness the potential of these emerging innovations in a thoughtful manner. He will share a number of recent developments related to learning, language and technology, including automation driven assessment, data driven learning, automated speech interfaces, and a variety of forms of natural language processing and artificial intelligence. Some of the tools and resources associated with these developments have found their way into language teaching and learning while others certainly will in the near future. He will discuss creative ways to focus on social communication while designing instructional experiences. He will share a number of recent developments related to language and technology and encourage teachers to create meaningful social experiences for learning. Many of these developments have the potential to dramatically alter learning. They may also threaten or intimidate language teachers and learners. The presenter will share thoughts about the need to embrace these developments as we move toward a new era of language learning: One in which these innovations will significantly contribute to instructional practices