Digital Literacies in EAL Special Interest Group 5: Generative AI in adult EAL
21 March, 4:30 – 5:30pm, Online
Are you interested in digital literacies in EAL settings? Join us for the third SIG event. The event will include a reintroduction of the SIG, followed by a seminar.
Digital Literacies in EAL SIG is an initiative supported by VicTESOL. It is a group for members of TESOL associations in Australia who are interested in digital literacies and their inclusion in EAL learning.
Research presentation – Teachers voices on generative AI in adult EAL settings
Generative AI platforms, such as Chat GPT, have already changed (and continue to change) different domains of life, work and learning, undoubtedly creating both opportunities and challenges. With the rapid adoption of AI by organisations and individuals, AI education and AI literacies are becoming increasingly important in everyday life, learning and work. They are especially significant for adult EAL learners, with teachers playing a crucial role in helping learners to develop capabilities associated with understanding and applying AI. This presentation reports initial insights from a recent research project exploring what EAL teachers think about the use of such tools within EAL settings and the potential of generative AI for language learning.
Speakers:
Dr Katrina Tour is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. Her research focuses on the digital literacies of adults and children from refugee and migrant backgrounds as they settle in Australia to enhance educational policies and pedagogies for digital literacies in EAL/TESOL settings.
Associate Professor Melissa Barnes works within the School of Education at La Trobe University. Her teaching focus and research interests are situated within the fields of teacher education, pedagogy, assessment, policy and TESOL. Recent research projects include an examination of teacher education policy reforms and school, family and community partnerships supporting families from refugee backgrounds.
Practice presentation – Utilising generative AI for resource development: A teacher’s experience with sample materials
The recent rise of generative AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, has ignited considerable discussion regarding their utility in second-language learning contexts. Focusing on ChatGPT, this session will explore how generative AI can be effectively used to develop appropriate, reflective, and responsive ESL learning materials in an ELICOS learning centre within a university setting. Students have been found to engage with the learning materials and have found them useful in their exam preparation. Meanwhile, teachers have expressed curiosity about their effectiveness and student responses regarding their appropriateness at different levels. Practical tips for teachers interested in incorporating generative AI into their resource development will be provided.
Speaker:
Ashley Starford is an Academic Adviser and ELICOS Teacher at Swinburne College, Melbourne. He has developed several curriculum items for General English, English for Academic Purposes, and bespoke ELICOS courses. He has worked extensively on developing asynchronous materials and was a member of the 2020 Action Research in ELICOS Program. Ashley also teaches part-time at the Faculty of Education, the University of Melbourne, and has been published on a variety of topics in the English Australia Journal. Aside from AI, he is interested in incorporating inclusivity into the ELICOS curriculum and exploring teacher-student relationships in EAL contexts
Event facilitators
Dr Katrina Tour (Monash University) and Associate Professor Melissa Barnes (LaTrobe University).
Cost
$10 – VicTESOL members (including members of other state TESOL associations affiliated with ACTA)
$30 – Non-members
