Complexity Theory: CALL @ The Edge of Chaos by Stephen A. Shucart 

venturing out... with Mitchel Resnick by Scott H. Rule 

Email Options for Students by Paul Daniels 

Officer Reports: 
Elin
Swanson
CALL News
Scholarship
This and That
Conferences
Call for Papers
English Drama

February 1998 

That I am sending you my first report as a coordinator through the internet shows that the CALL N-SIG is making an important transition into the electronic age. This transition will accomplish several things for the CALL N-SIG: it will help the officers keep in more regular contact with the membership, it will set an example of what can be done through computers, and perhaps best of all - it will save us money. Kevin in his new role as newsletter editor plans to publish the bulk of the newsletter on the internet with the help of Paul Daniels. We will still be sending out an abbreviated paper newsletter for those without web access. 

Instead of spending most of your membership money on the newsletter, we will be able to make the 1998 CALL N-SIG book on computers and language learning available for free to members. Paul Lewis is already making plans and setting dates in order to have the book ready by KoTESOL, just before our national conference in Omiya. 

We are getting more requests from chapters for CALL presentations, and Scott is hard at work on a system for referrals. We would like to not only be available for chapter presentations, but also to provide CALL workshops in areas around Japan. Workshops are already in the works for Shizuoka and Kyoto. 

Some of you may remember that we had planned to have the 1998 Conference in Shizuoka. This did not end up working out for several reasons. Instead we will be co-hosting a conference with TMIT and West Tokyo on May 30 and 31 at TMIT. We will have a special guest from Australia - Dr. Jeff Quinn, a CALL curriculum specialist. 

TESOL is only a month and a half away and the CALL N-SIG will host quite a presence there with Scott Rule, Kevin Ryan, Larry Davies, and myself all planning to attend. Scott is running the CALL EV (Electronic Village) Software Fair. I have been asked to participate in a TESOL affiliate roundtable on organizational websites and listservs. I had not thought about it before, but JALT really sets an example in this field and I will be proud to describe what is happening in JALT. 

Reading back over my report, it seems that I only touch briefly on many things. Kevin, Paul Daniels, Scott, and Paul Lewis are all working hard on their areas and I don't want to steal their thunder. Please bookmark the new online "C@lling Japan" and we will keep you up to date on what is happening in the N-SIG. 

Membership Chair 
Malcolm Swanson 

"Hi, I'm Malcolm Swanson, the C@LL Membership Chair for 1998. I've been living and teaching down here in Kitakyushu for the past 9 years; a big change from my elementary school classes in my native New Zealand! My main area of professional interest is in developing programmes that promote learner autonomy, and to that end my students and I make extensive use of our college's  computer suites and internet access. When teaching and JALT allow me some free time, I enjoy hiking, canoing and camping around Kyushu, followed by a soak in one of our many 'onsen'. I'm yet another Mac-fanatic, running a PM7600 desk-top at home, an 8500 at school, and a Newton MP2K in the classroom." 

Websites I administer: 
Kitakyushu JALT: http://www.seafolk.ne.jp/kqjalt/ 
TLT Chapter Announcements On-Line: http://www.seafolk.ne.jp/kqjalt/chmtg.html 
1998 4Corners Tour: http://www.seafolk.ne.jp/kqjalt/4corner.html