Avenue - LearnIT2teach Podcasts

Part Three of an interview with Dr. Phil Hubbard, the Senior Lecturer Emeritus in the Stanford University Language Center. The session begins with Dr Hubbard sharing his journey into the world of CALL (Computer-assisted language learning) and TELL (Technology-enhanced language learning) and what inspired him to venture into these realms. He also spoke about how TELL has transformed the landscape of language education over the years and some of the most significant ways in which TELL contributes to modern language learning practices.

This podcast is Part One of an interview with Dr. Phil Hubbard, the Senior Lecturer Emeritus in the Stanford University Language Center. The podcast is moderated by Dr. Sepideh Alavi, Mentor and Resource Developer for The Avenue - LearnIT2teach Project, The session focused on the goals and purpose of the Avenue Instructor Standards for Technology-enhanced language learning (TELL). Dr Hubbard also spoke about examples of standards and how a teacher can incorporate them into their practice. The conversation is rounded out by a discussion on how the standards affect the outcomes of language classes and how instructors can balance technological advancements and core pedagogical principles.

This podcast is the third of a four-part conversation with adult education consultant and Avenue Standards for TELL team member Sharon Rajabi. In this podcast, Sharon talks about the importance of standards generally, and specifically, the importance of the Avenue Standards and how they might be applied in the settlement language sector. Sharon is talking with Bonnie Nicholas with The Avenue-LearnIT2teach Project.

This podcast is the first of a four-part conversation with Sharon Rajabi, MEd, an adult education consultant with a long and distinguished career in leadership in second language teaching and learning. Sharon is part of the team of language and technology experts at New Language Solutions that has developed the Avenue Standards for Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) for learners, instructors, and programs.In this first podcast, Sharon talks about her own journey with educational technology as a teacher, a developer, and a manager. Focusing on the settlement language sector, she discusses the importance of digital literacy for connection and for communication, both for learners and for instructors. Sharon’s conversational partner is Bonnie Nicholas with The Avenue-LearnIT2teach Project.

This podcast is the first of a two-part interview with Dr. Deborah Healey, Emerita Professor University of Oregon.In this interview, Dr. Healey speaks about her role in the development of Avenue Standards for Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL), and how she thinks that these new standards will benefit the Canadian language teaching and settlement sector. She addresses how the standards will affect language instructors in their practice. Dr. Healey also discusses how her experience developing the TESOL international technology standards assisted her team with the crafting of the Avenue Technology-Enhanced Language Learning standards. Moderated by Avenue’s own John Allan. LENGTH: 07:26

In this podcast we interview Dr. Greg Kessler, a Professor of Innovative Learning Design and Technology. In part 1, the session focused on Dr Kessler’s Graduate Program at Ohio University and an exciting new opportunity for him at the University of Calgary. Dr Kessler also spoke on his role in the development of Avenue Standards for Technology-enhanced Language Learning (TELL). Moderated by Avenue’s own Paul Carter. LENGTH: 08:47

Moderated by Paul Carter, a mentor and resource developer for the Avenue - LearnIT2teach Project, this podcast is part one of an interview with two LINC professionals, Maureen Kelbert and Vesna Radivojevic from Vancouver Community College (VCC). The session focused on how settlement language training sector administrators, teachers, and newcomers can reach higher levels of teaching and learning excellence by learning about and reflecting on the ways that online learning technologies are threaded through good teaching and learning.In part one you will hear discussion about how blended/online learning are implemented at VCC in the LINC program, how VCC became involved with LearnIT2teach and Avenue, how it has been received by teachers and students, and the benefits and challenges of blended/online learning for students.

Moderated by Paul Carter, a mentor and resource developer for the Avenue - LearnIT2teach Project, this podcast is part three of an interview with two LINC professionals, Maureen Kelbert and Vesna Radivojevic from Vancouver Community College (VCC). The session focused on how settlement language training sector administrators, teachers, and newcomers can reach higher levels of teaching and learning excellence by learning about and reflecting on the ways that online learning technologies are threaded through good teaching and learning.In part three you will hear discussion about Vesna's experience with LearnIT2teach Stage 4 training, the teacher experience from the introduction of CLBs to PBLA to the pandemic, the overall impact of the pandemic on teaching at VCC, some of the problems that come with technology, and the value of support from Mentors and Live Help both in the training and in using Avenue with learners.

Vesna Radivojevic is an Avenue/LearnIT2teach team member and the Coordinator/Assistant Department Head for the Vancouver Community College LINC program. In conversation with Avenue/LearnIT2teach team member Paul Carter, Vesna talks about the many contributions she made to the eLearning module and some of the challenges teachers faced with the pandemic and the rapid shift to online learning as well as some of the solutions that were developed in response to the change. Duration, twelve minutes, twenty seconds. Access the eLearning module here: AMSSA Courses: The Language Companion, Artefact Collection, and Avenue Solutions for Remote LINC Delivery

What is TESL Basics for Language Volunteers (TBLV)? How do front line service providers put this seven unit online course to work locally or regionally? How does the partnership with the Avenue - LearnIT2teach Project work, and what does Avenue expect from partners? In this podcast Genevieve Spicer interviews Shabana Shahzad from the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary about how her agency has made TBLV work. Shabana describes the steps in getting started, and how the course is benefiting volunteers and the Centre.Length: 7:20

This is the second of three podcast interviews recorded with Dr. Tony Bates, a leading light for Canadian educators on questions of blended, and online learning. In this episode, we are talking about the world of online learning in the aftermath of COVID-19. How will all the innovations educators made in response to the crisis shape the adult education world of the future?How will teaching be different post-COVID? Is face to face teaching always better than online? What will learners expect online versus face to face? What are the affordances of face to face compared to online? Educators will be thinking much more carefully about how they should be using their face to face time. Teachers might prefer to deal with more sensitive topics face to face. People may be more reluctant to gather together. Learners may want to understand why they are being asked to leave their homes and travel to school. The answer may lie in what do students most enjoy doing.

The Edulinc courseware, and the Moodle open-source learning management system on which Edulinc is built, provide a wide array of functions and tools. Wikis, blogs, the grade book, Activity Tracking, the discussion and news forums are just a few examples. But not every LINC teacher wants or needs all the tools to make blended learning work. Rostam Pooladi-Darvish has been using Edulinc with his LINC learners at Bow Valley College in Calgary for four years now. In this podcast, Rostam describes how he makes limited use of the tools available, but he still finds the courseware is very effective for teaching and learning. He describes how he used the system initially and how his teaching has evolved. He also talks about how his learners benefit from Edulinc and enjoy it.