Conference: Learning Technologies in the Language Classroom: A Step Closer to the Future
Nicosia, Cyprus, 26-28 May 2006
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This 3-day event, entitled Learning Technologies in the Language Classroom, was organised by the IATEFL Learning Technologies SIG and the University of Cyprus. It was a chance to explore technologies in the language classroom, with particular emphasis on key issues in e-learning and lots of discussion and speculation about its future directions. Naturally, there were numerous talks and workshops which focused on hardware (especially interactive whiteboards) or software (ranging from Hot Potatoes to wikis), but there’s no doubt about the main focus of the conference: the wetware.
This term, according to Wikipedia, is probably derived from Rudy Rucker’s 1988 novel of the same name, and is used to refer to ” the integration of the concepts of the physical construct known as the central nervous system (CNS) and the mental construct known as the human mind. It is a two part abstraction drawn from the computer related idea of hardware or software”. More simply and more generally, we can say that it refers to the human beings who interact with the hardware and the software.
The core theme of the conference, which surfaced and resurfaced repeatedly in different guises and contexts, was that it’s the people who matter. Yes, the hardware and software need to be in place, but what matters is what we do with them – how we use them to construct knowledge, to communicate, to teach and to learn. Crucially, it’s about people working together, meaning teachers with students, but also students with students, and teachers with teachers … as in a conference forum like this one.
I’ve developed my thoughts on this subject more fully in my article “Hard, soft or wet: Directions in e-learning“, published in summer 2006 in the CALL Review. The same issue also contains summaries of the conference by plenary speakers Stephen Bax and Gavin Dudeney.
My own presentation was entitled “E-learning: From hype to hope”; the PowerPoint and handout are available on the conference website. [As of April 2007, this website was in the process of redevelopment, during which period not all documents are available. In the meantime I’m happy to supply copies if you contact me.]
Tags: hardware, software, wetware