Archive for February, 2012

special issue of Calico journal on autonomy/call

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Call for Papers

Special Issue of the CALICO Journal

Issue 30.3 published in May 2013

Learner Preparation
in Technology-Enhanced Language Learning Environments

Guest editors: Chun Lai (University of Hong Kong) and Bruce Morrison (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

This special issue of the CALICO Journal will address key issues concerning learner preparation in constructing optimal
technology-enhanced language learning experiences. The increasing use of open technological platforms, such as
CMC, blogging, wiki, social networking sites, and online gaming and simulation environments, supports context-based
acquisition and multilingual and cross-cultural interactions. However, such learning environments pose great demands
on learners in terms of their ability to maximize online language and culture learning potential. At the same time, the
availability of digital resources and platforms challenges learners to construct personal technology-enhanced language
learning experiences. How to help learners develop and sharpen such capacities then becomes a crucial issue.

For this special issue of the CALICO Journal, we solicit reports of research that examine key issues around learner
preparation in utilizing and constructing technology-enhanced learning experiences.

Topics relevant to the special issue may include, but are not limited to:
• Theoretical conceptualization of learner preparation in and for technology-enhanced language learning;
• Empirical studies on the effectiveness of learner preparation in technology-enhanced language learning;
• Approaches to learner preparation in technology-enhanced language learning environments and activities;
• Learner preparation in different socio-cultural and instructional contexts;
• Learner preparation in various self-regulated, technology-enhanced language learning contexts

Please send inquiries and suggestions for contributions to both Chun Lai (laichun@hku.hk) and Bruce Morrison
(ecbruce@inet.polyu.edu.hk). Please list CALICO Journal Special Issue in the subject line.

Feb 25th, 2012: submission deadline for abstracts
(approx. 500 words outlining the purposes and content of the paper)
March 9th, 2012: invitation to authors to submit a manuscript
Oct 31st, 2012: full papers due
(author guidelines available at https://calico.org/page.php?id=514)
Jan 15th, 2013: revised papers due
May, 2013: publication of the special issue

Unesco mobile learning week presentations now up

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Unesco had a mobile learning week with presentations a while back. Some of these are now available on the website (check out the menu on the right):

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/themes/icts/m4ed/mlw/mobile-learning-week-presentations/

unesco

Really cool storytelling software – Creaza

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Just came across Creaza, basically a bundle of online editing tools for creating cartoon-like stories, using audio and video as well as mindmaps. Haven’t used it yet but would love to hear from you if you have.

creaza

new CALL book – CALL, diversity in research and practice

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

An exciting book has just come out edited by Glenn Stockwell. You can find a description and a TOC below.

Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is an approach to teaching and learning languages that uses computers and other technologies to present, reinforce, and assess material to be learned, or to create environments where teachers and learners can interact with one another and the outside world. This book provides a much-needed overview of the diverse approaches to research and practice in CALL. It differs from previous works in that it not only surveys the field, but also makes connections to actual practice and demonstrates the potential advantages and limitations of the diverse options available. These options are based squarely on existing research in the field, enabling readers to make informed decisions regarding their own research in CALL. This essential text helps readers to understand and embrace the diversity in the field, and helps to guide them in both research and practice.
Special Offers and Product Promotions

1. Introduction: Glenn Stockwell
2. Diversity in learner usage patterns: Robert Fischer
3. Diversity in learning training: Philip Hubbard and Kenneth Romeo
4. Diversity in learner support: Hayo Reinders and Pornapit Darasawang
5. Diversity in environments: Glenn Stockwell and Nobue Tanaka-Ellis
6. Diversity in content: E. Marcia Johnson and John Brine
7. Diversity in modalities: Marie-Noëlle Lamy
8. Diversity in technologies: Gordon Bateson and Paul Daniels
9. Diversity in research and practice: Glenn Stockwell
10. Conclusion: Glenn Stockwell

stockwell-call-book

‘will the medium matter’ survey request

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

From Jozef Colpaert and Glenn Stockwell:

We would like to invite language teachers worldwide to fill in this Two-Minute Survey on Open Language Learning: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DPJ689W.

This survey is part of a research project by Jozef Colpaert, University of Antwerp, and Glenn Stockwell, Waseda University, Tokyo, aiming at identifying factors which might impact on the use of Open Educational Resources in the Language Learning and Teaching Community worldwide.

Open Educational Resources (OER) can be defined as “digital materials that can be re-used for teaching, learning, research and more, made available for free through open licenses, which allow uses of the materials that would not be easily permitted under copyright alone” (www.wikipedia.org).

The results of this survey will be sent to all participants who provide their email address. They will also be presented at the EuroCall SIG meeting on Open Educational Resources in Bologna (29-30 March 2012), the XVth International CALL Research Conference in Taiwan (25-27 May 2012), the CALICO 2012 conference at Notre Dame University, and will be published in Computer Assisted Language Learning. The data will also be made available as Open Research Data for researchers worldwide.