Keynote speech

Educational technology, digital literacy and teacher education: how do we build new knowledge rather than reproduce the old?

Dr. Richard Pountney, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
Sheffield Institute of Education, Sheffield Hallam University

This keynote reports the findings of a project “Digital Futures in Teacher Education” (DeFT) undertaken in 2012 as part of the third phase of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) UK Open Educational Resources (OER) programme. It builds on previous work (Gruszczynska and Pountney, 2013a, 2013b) that has addressed attempts to embed OER practice within the teacher education sector, and which has informed practice in teaching and learning in the school system involving digital literacy. A framework for digital literacy is outlined, drawing heavily on socio-cultural models of digital practice (Davies and Merchant, 2014), that has the potential to re-imagine teachers and teaching, as well as learners and learning. At the same time, a missing piece of the puzzle is identified as the way in which educational technology knowledge itself is ‘specialised’ according to whether it addresses the ‘who’ rather than the ‘what’ of digital literacy (Howard and Maton, 2011). This framework takes into account current debates (primarily within the UK but of relevance to European perspectives) focusing on issues of ICT, digital literacy and media literacy in the curriculum, which reflect a tension between digital literacy as a set of skills and competencies on the one hand and understandings that arise from socio-cultural and communicative practices on the other. Current understandings of digital literacy in the context of teacher education and OER are explored and the potential for knowledge building in educational technology (Czerniewicz, 2010) is examined. This draws on data collected in the context of the DeFT project and includes meanings and perspectives on digital literacies as expressed by teachers and children. In terms of a digital future for teacher education the keynote highlights the need for practices, learning packages and tools to continue to evolve, in close cooperation with their potential users, and linked directly to classroom and schools as the site of this production.

Czerniewicz, L. 2010. Educational technology – Mapping the terrain with Bernstein as cartographer, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Vol 26, No. 6, pp523–34

Davies, J. and Merchant, G. (2014) Digital Literacy and Teacher Education. In P.Benson and A. Chik Popular Culture, Pedagogy and Teacher Education: International Perspectives London: Routledge.

Gruszczynska, A., Merchant, G. and Pountney, R. (2013) Digital Futures in Teacher Education: Exploring Open Approaches towards Digital Literacy, The Electronic Journal of e-Learning Volume 11 Issue 3: 193-206
Gruszczynska, A. and Pountney, R. (2013a) Open Practice in International Teacher Education Case Study, Higher Education Academy report [available online at here]
Gruszczynska, A. and Pountney, R. (2013b) Developing the concept of Digital Literacy in the context of Schools and Teacher Education, Enhancing Learning in the Social Sciences Journal, Volume 5, Issue 1

 

2015 International Conference on Education Poster

2009 Conference Proceedings published

Dear 2009 conference participants,

Thank you all so much for attending the venue and making it all worthwhile.

The conference proceedings are now published and the hardcopies will be delivered to you shortly.

regards,

Kallia Katsampoxaki-Hodgetts

Conference Chair

Photo Gallery of 2009 Conference

LSP 2009 Conference Report

On February 7 and 8, 2009, the University of Crete held its inaugural “Language for Specific and Academic Purposes” conference (LSP) and played host to 130 L.S.P. practitioners from all over the world in order to address the issue of “Options and Practices of L.S.P. Practitioners”. The conference was attended by delegations from 20 different countries. Two thirds of the participants worked on the tertiary sector, teaching English for Specific and/or Academic Purposes, and one third was secondary school or private sector teachers, or students.

The conference programme was rounded off around 22 papers and four workshops, and an exhibition covering 300 square meters floor space. There were five plenary sessions and 17 concurrent sessions. The conference sought to provide the opportunity for University instructors and other L.S.P. instructors from all over the world to meet and debate issues on current teaching practices and research applications.

Two thirds of Conference participants that evaluated the conference’s organization, content and opportunity to exchange information provided useful feedback for present and future conference organizers.

Here are the outcomes of the Evaluation Forms Report:

Participants from Tertiary sector 68% of which international 60%

Secondary 13%

Other 19% (private schools, students etc)

Issues	Tertiary68%	Secondary13%	Other19%
How did you hear about the conference?	90% online 10% off-line (poster, E.L.T. Newsletter, colleagues)	50% Online 40% Off-line 10% colleagues	70% Online 30% colleagues
Registration time	70% more than 2 months before conf 20% 1 month before 10 % on the day	70% more than 2 months before conf 30% on the day	30% more than 2 months before conf 30% 1 month before 40% on the day
Registration process	Uncomplicated 70% Moderately easy 20% Complicated 10%	Uncomplicated 50% Moderately easy 50%	Uncomplicated 60% Moderately easy40%
How would you rate the conference?	Excellent 65% Good 25% Poor 5% * (*one of the plenaries was not up to standard)	Excellent 40% Good 60%	Excellent 60% Good 40%
Main reason for attending?	Personal growth and development 85% Prof. obligation 10% Other 5%	Personal growth and development 100%	Personal growth and development 95% Prof. obligation 5%
Prior knowledge to the topics addressed?	More than 75%: 50% About 50%: 45% Less than 25%:05%	More than 75%: 25% About 50%: 65% Less than 25%:10%	More than 75%: 70% Less than 25%:30%
Topics addressed relevant to your work/studies?	Extremely rel. 30% Quite relevant 70% Not at all 0%	Extremely rel. 15% Quite relevant 85% Not at all 0%	Extremely rel. 40% Quite relevant. 60% Not at all 0%
To what extent did the conf improve understanding of topics addressed?	More than 75%: 30% About 50%: 55% Less than 25%: 15%	More than 75%: 15% About 50% : 85% Less than 25%: 0%	More than 75%: 50% About 50% : 30% Less than 25%: 20%
Succeeded in promoting exchange of ideas/experience btw participants?	Yes absolutely 70% Yes, partially 30% No	Yes absolutely 70% Yes, partially 30% No	Yes absolutely 80% Yes, partially 20% No
How do you rate blend of theory and practical applications?	Excellent 30% Good 60% Poor 10%	Excellent 30% Good 70% Poor 0%	Excellent 50% Good 50% Poor 0%
How would you rate the workshops?	Excellent 30% Good 50% Poor 10% Did not attend 10%	Excellent 30% Good 70% Poor 0%	Excellent 20% Good 70% Poor 10%
Has the conf inspired you to consider any follow-up activities?	Yes absolutely 50% Yes possibly 50% No 0%	Yes absolutely 50% Yes possibly 50% No 0%	Yes absolutely 30% Yes possibly 70% No 0%
Was post-presentation discussion time adequate?	Yes absolutely 65% Yes possibly 25% No 10%	Yes absolutely 50% Yes possibly 50% No 0%	Yes absolutely 30% Yes possibly 50% No 20%
Did you find the conference material useful?	Yes absolutely 60% Yes partially 40% No 5%	Yes absolutely 20% Yes partially 80% No 0%	Yes absolutely 40% Yes partially 60% No 0%
Would you have recommended this conference to others?	Yes, without hesitation 80% Yes, with Reservations 20% No 5%	Yes, without hesitation 70% Yes, with Reservations 30% No 0%	Yes, without hesitation 80% Yes, with reservations 20% No 0%
How did you feel about the conference content?	Extremely satisfied 45% Partially satisfied 45% Dissatisfied 10%	Extremely satisfied 25% Partially satisfied 65% Dissatisfied 0%	Extremely satisfied 50% Partially satisfied 50% Dissatisfied 0%
Rate the venue and facilities	Excellent 40% Good 60% Poor 0%	Excellent 80% Good 20% Poor 0%	Excellent 75% Good 20% Poor 05%
Rate food and beverages?	Excellent 45%* Good 55% Poor 05% *Lunches were a wonderful surprise	Excellent 90% Good 10% Poor 0%	Excellent 70% Good 20% Poor 10%* * More Mediterranean /local products needed
Out-of-conference Organized activities	Excellent 70% Good 30% Poor 0%	Excellent 90% Good 10% Poor 0%	Excellent 80% Good 20% Poor 0% Did not attend 10%
Rate the overall organization?	Excellent 60% Good 40% Poor 0%	Excellent 50% Good 50% Poor 0%	Excellent 70% Good 20% Poor 10%
Did the conference satisfy your reasons for attending?	Yes absolutely 75% Yes partially 20% No 05%	Yes absolutely 60% Yes partially 40% No 0%	Yes absolutely 70% Yes partially 30% No 0%
Any missing areas from the programme?	Comments We need more practical workshops/aspects/examples Need for discussion of ESP fundamentals: where we are going and why. Need more discipline teachers who collaborate with LSP teachers. Excellent job! There was a good blend of theory and practice. Need more languages, other than English. Really friendly organizing committee!	Comments Make more time for workshops. Great hospitality. One session overlapped.	Comments Some topics discussed insisted on theory and not on the applications in class

Saturday Programme

Sat 7	A1	A2		A3		Workshops
A 1 8.00- 9.30 Registration 9.30- 9.45 Inauguration Speeches
9.45- 10.30	Plenary Session: Helen Basturkmen Issues in Needs Analysis in ESP Chair: K. Katsampoxaki-Hodgetts
10.30 -11.15	Evidence-based needs analysis: CEFR-based competence profiles for VOLL and ESP Marjatta Huhta, Esko Johnson Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences,& Central Ostrobothnia University of Applied Sciences, Kokkola, Finland Chair: V. Ladopoulos	Embedding language skills development into mainstream courses:a case study Brunken Anna, Robyn Thomas La Trobe University, Australia Chair: Francesca Sweeney-Androulaki		Developing Critical Awareness and Intercultural Competence in Business English Classes. Karras Ioannis ESP/EAP tutor Uni. of Patras & TEI of Patras Chair: Maria Pitsaki
11.15- 11.45 Coffee Break
11.45-12.30 A1	Plenary: Maggie Charles “Can I use I, should I use we, or do I have to use the passive?” A Pedagogic Approach to Stance in Academic Writing Chair: Kallia Katsampoxaki-Hodgetts
Sat 7	A1	A2	A3		Workshops
12.30- 1.15	In search of General Academic English: a corpus-driven study Granger Sylviane & Magali Paquot Université Catholique de Louvain, Centre for English corpus linguistics, Belgium Chair: Francesca Sweeney-Androulakis		A corpus-based analysis of stance in the Japanese medical students’ essays Shozo Yokoyama University of Miyazaki, Japan Chair: K. Divini		12.30-1.30, B2 Using classroom based-activities to demonstrate how technical and academic writing skills can be integrated into an ESP course Panourgia & Perdiki, T.E.I. of Kavala. Chair: Vicky Nikolaidis
1.15 – 2.00 A1	Plenary: Vasiliki Rizomilioti: Metaphors in ESP Chair: N. Rizopoulou
2.00- 2.45	ESL engineering students: pedagogical implications and recommendations for developing communicative competence in English for specific purposes courses Myles Johanne Mednick , Kingston, Ontario, Canada Chair: Rizopoulou					2.00- 3.00, B2 Using visual feedback to improve L2 pronunciation in ESP courses Imber, Maynard, Ohlrogge & Yung-Hui Chien, University of Michigan. Chair: K. Divini
2.45- 4.30 Lunch Break
4.30 – 5.15	Practical aspects of developing an ESP e-learning course. Iwona Misztal Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland Chair: F. Georgiadi	Focusing on intertextuality in academic texts – Ways of enhancing subject-linked literacy through LSP-classes Portz Renate University of Athens Chair: Genaraki		A unique programme for blended learning, combining an online interactive home-study course with face-to-face classroom activities Sophia Goundi Burlington English Consultant
5.15 – 6.00	Cognate words in the language of electronics & electrical engineering. Empirical findings of their didactic potential Papakonstantinou Melina T.E.I. of Kavala, Greece Chair: Rizopoulou					Computer Lab 5.15-6.15 E-learning and English for Academic Purposes Anne McKay & E. Tripolitakis Technical University of Crete Chair: N. Ventura
6.00- 7.00	SIG networking Language for Science & Technology (B1)	SIG networking: Language for Medicine		SIG networking: Language for Business & Tourism		SIG networking Language for Humanities (B2)
9.00 Conference Dinner (you need to sign up and pay at the desk)

To LSP 2009 Conference registrants

Thank you for registering for the International Language for Specific Purposes Conference on “Options and Practices of LSP practitioners”. We are very pleased that the University of Crete will be hosting the event this year at the Chemistry department in Heraklion and are looking forward to your participation.

Maps

On our conference site, /LSPcrete.wordpress.com/, we have provided some additional information on the area and a map to help you find your way to the main venue.

Fast track registrations

Alongside new registrations, fast track registrations (for participants who have already registered) will be taking place on Saturday morning from 8.30 to 11.30.

Exhibition

The conference exhibition will be running during the two-day event. It will highlight selected software and contemporary textbooks and resource books.

Coffee & Lunch

Coffee & cookies will be served outside the lecture theatres at 8.30 and at 11.30 every day. Conference Fork buffet menu will be served at 2.45 on Saturday and Sunday . Lunch will be accompanied by water, wine and soft drinks.

Conference Dinner

On Saturday evening, at 9.00, we will be dining at “Kipos ton Yefseon” restaurant, (Garden of Tastes) in the centre of Heraklion. The restaurant ‘kipos ton yefseon’ is a renovated neo-classic building of the ’30s surrounded with a court yard. It is located at number 8, Chrisostomou Street.

If you wish to join us, make a reservation and pay the additional fee at the registration desk before 12.00 pm.

Guided Tour-on Sunday morning

On Sunday morning, if you make a reservation, we will be giving a guided tour (for Early Birds) of the Minoan Palace ruins and the Knossos antiquities.  Transport will be provided and the pick-up points are at the recommended hotels (Olympic, Kastro and Atrion). Please ask at your hotel reception on arrival to find out the exact location and time.

Free transport on Saturday morning & evening

Please note that the LSP 2009 coach will transport participants from Hotels Olympic, Atrion and Castro to the campus on Saturday at 8.15 am. After the conference on Saturday, at 7.15, the coach will take participants back to the Hotels.

On Sunday, transportation is only provided to participants who will take the Guided Tour. The coach will take participants from the Hotels (8.00) to the Knossos antiquities and back to the campus (10.00). Kindly note that the conference desk administrator will check on arrival whether you wish to make any reservations.

When you arrive at the conference, we will provide you with your registration folder which will include updated conference information and the program. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we hope you enjoy your stay.