The JALT CALL SIG
JALT 2000 Website
CALL at JALT2000

CALL at JALT 2000

Summaries of the CALL SIG presentations

 

CALL SIG Forum: CALL in Use
Saturday 10:15 - 12:00

Anyone involved with CALL can tell you that the most common question is "What software should I use?" This demonstration will attempt to answer that question by giving CALL users a chance to share their favorites with others by demonstrating software or web pages which they use and find useful. Demonstrations follow a software fair mode with participants wandering the room and stopping to see software which they find interesting. Software demonstrated may include both software used with students and in the office.

The CALL SIG will gather the presenters for this demonstration at a later date. All presenters will bring their own laptops to the presentation.

To apply to present at the CALL SIG Forum follow the directions on the forum page.

 

CALL SIG Colloquium: Technology on the horizon (105 minutes)
Moderator - Elin Melchior
Sunday 11:15 - 13:00

The last decade has brought about tremendous changes in the technology available to language teachers. What will the new decade bring? The panel will discuss the new possibilities of the technology on the horizon.

Publishers & Textbooks - Paul Riley
This section will highlight how publishers, both the traditional ELT variety as well as other publishing media are attempting to implement CALL-related products and services. Standalone CALL programs and computer-based supplements to existing paper-based materials will be presented.

Networking Connections - Bill Gatton
Networking is the place where technology solutions converge. Concepts: interface metaphors, scalability, extensibility, cyber real estate, and bandwidth. Swallow hard, do you want to be a hacker? You and your students are connected, but how goes the English acquisition? If the computers are talking to each other, can we be certain our students are too? We'll try to exorcise the hype from the hyper.

Translation/Artificial Intelligence - Brett Reynolds
Brett Reynolds will offer a brief look at current and future connections between AI and TESL, and machine translation and TESL.

Handheld Electronic Devices - Robert Weschler
What do portable electronic dictionaries, mobile phones, IC recorders, talking phrasebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and handheld scanners have in common? A lot more than they used to. Functions are merging, crossing platforms, being used in new ways. How useful are these devices for language learning? Can their appealing features help our students to become more motivated, efficient and autonomous learners? What, then, of our changing roles as teachers and students?

Operating Systems - Michael Geffon
What's new in the world of operating systems? Everything! Your choices as a consumer and educator have never been greater. Commercial offerings Macintosh and Windows are both getting major rewrites, and the upstart (free!) Linux has joined them on center stage as a viable alternative. Come hear what's new and catch a glimpse over the OS horizon. A summary is available here.

Online Education - Kaori Shibatani
Kaori Shibatani will give a perspective on online language teaching in the US from her vantage point as a web developer for Minds and Technologies, a Silicon Valley speech technology venture.

 

 

CALL SIG Sponsored Presentation: Computer & Internet Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) (45 min.)
Michael Geffon
Friday 10:15 - 11:00

Although the Internet provides a rich source of authentic material and unique opportunities for learning to a language program, it is very difficult to completely control the content and behavior that students may encounter. Language instructors who are utilizing the Internet may soon unexpectedly find themselves on the battle lines when it comes to issues of privacy and safety. Although relatively rare in Japan, many schools in other countries have implemented Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) to address the risks associated with educational use of computers and technology. AUPs serve to both clearly delimit the responsibilities and restrictions placed on the users, as well as to limit the liability a school administration may face as a result of incidents involving the technology. Such policies are predicated on concepts of individual responsibility and the real, possibly substantial, legal consequences that students and schools may face as a result of improper activity. Such concepts may be seen as "foreign" and be met with resistance by some Japanese school administrators. Unfortunately, however, the global nature of the Internet is challenging the notion of "local" standards everywhere, and demanding pragmatic solutions. In this workshop, the presenter's experience in drafting, debating, and seeing one such AUP adopted in a Japanese jr./sr. high school will be presented, with particular emphasis on the problems presented by cultural and language barriers. In addition, a discussion of the policy itself and hands-on activities will give participants the opportunity to examine some of these issues in greater depth.

 

CALL SIG Discussion: Online classes (45 min.)
Steve Cornwell
Friday 15:15 - 16:00

More and more schools are providing distance education online. It is an intriguing work opportunity for teachers and opens myriad possibilities for students, but it is not something to blindly jump into. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these online classes? What makes an online class a success? What are the limits of online education? These are important questions which we need to take time to discuss.

The presenter has both taken and taught online classes at a founding distance education institution. Several other CALL SIG members with online education experience will be present to aid the discussion.

 

CALL SIG AGM
Elin Melchior
Saturday 12:15 - 13:00

This is the CALL SIG's Annual General Meeting. This is are only face to face meeting during which we decide policy, discuss ideas for the future and vote on next year's officers. Please join us for this important meeting. If you have an issue which you would like to see entered on the agenda, please send it to Elin Melchior at elin@gol.com.

 

The JALT CALL SIG
JALT 2000 Website
CALL at JALT2000


This site last updated October 5, 2000