Invited Speaker_ICIET 2024

Saitama University, Japan

Biography: Leander Hughes is an Associate Professor at the Saitama University Center for English Education and Development. His research focuses on developing and investigating technologies to better understand and enhance the language learning process. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Foreign Language Acquisition at the Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University.

Speech Title: Insights from Talking Through and to Computers

Abstract: What is the impact of communication on second language acquisition? Surprisingly, this question still lacks a clear answer. This presentation delves into a series of studies conducted to uncover the mechanisms underlying communicative language learning through comparing communicative and non-communicative computer-mediated vocabulary learning tasks. The results reveal novel effects of learner-learner communication that have yet to be addressed in the existing literature. In addition, the presentation will discuss preliminary findings of a study on the impact of human-AI interaction on language learning and their relationship with the studies on learner-learner communication. Altogether, these findings demonstrate how human-computer interaction can contribute to a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Bucknell University, USA

Biography: David W. Del Testa received his Ph.D. in History from the University of California at Davis in 2001. After three years at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California, Prof. Del Testa began work in 2004 as an assistant professor at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, receiving tenure in 2011. In addition to his scholarship on French colonial Indochina, Del Testa has long had a broad interest in digital pedagogy praxis, including teaching introductory and intermediate historical geographic information systems (H-GIS) and building hybrid analog-digital faculty-student collaborative historical research and presentation projects (e.g., student digitization and cataloging of World War II-era posters, on-line digital journeys through colonial and contemporary Vietnam digital presentations on Bucknell University’s World War I veterans), culminating with a current project on AR-enhanced study abroad. Del Testa also has a strong sensitivity to enhancing student access in the classroom and learning materials. He has presented previously on digital pedagogy at ERTé, NERCOMP, ICIET, and the American Historical Association.

Speech Title: Improving accessibility and reducing barriers to access as a generalizable digital pedagogy to advance classroom inclusivity and enhance student learning

Abstract: As digital pedagogies become increasingly enmeshed with post-secondary education praxis, questions about maintaining accessibility and reducing barriers to access become increasingly important, especially since the need for students engage in lifelong education - and deal with the changing conditions of a long life - grows over time. However, educators and information technologists should not see ensuring physical accessibility and/or reducing barriers to access as a burden, but as a golden opportunity to improve their own teaching and the educational environment. The major desktop operating systems - Windows, Mac OS, and Linux - and the major smartphone operating systems - iOS and Android - come with impressive capabilities to enhance visual, audio, and haptic access, and the cost of hardware has fallen so dramatically that an average student can acquire models that support their needs at a very low cost. The challenge arises now not in capability, but in terms of human capital and accepting adaptive hardware and software as universally rather than just specifically applicable. Oftentimes, responsibility for specialized knowledge rests with a small group of specific staff or administrative offices, and accessibility - both in a special-needs sense and in terms of cost - remain specialized rather than generalized. Faculty often do not receive familiarization training either adaptive technologies or approaches to digital pedagogy that minimizes cost. Yet a simple investment in time and exposure could create opportunities to improve classroom inclusivity as well as amplify opportunities for new approaches to learning. What are often seen as adaptive approaches to the needs of special students should become generalized approaches to increase engagement with all students.

Zayed University, UAE

Biography: Lilian currently serves as the Director of Library and Learning Commons at Zayed University in the UAE with the rank of Professor in Practice. With over 20 years of academic library leadership experience in Canada and overseas in the Middle East combined with her education background in information system, educational leadership, and educational technology, Lilian is well versed and experienced with the digital transformation in higher education, particularly in the areas of digital and smart libraries, technology integration of curriculum development, and international higher education leadership.

Speech Title: Academic Libraries in the era of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract: In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), academic libraries in higer education are experiencing significant transformations in how services are provided to elevate user experience. AI presents a host of opportunities and challenges for academic librarians in many aspects. While AI can be integrated in academic libraries to enhance services, improve efficiency, and provide more personalized experiences for users, there are urgent needs to address ethical and privacy concerns, as well as ongoing training needs for librarians to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI technologies.

The main purpose of this research is to survey the AI integrations in the context of academic libraries and identify trends and issues going forward. The research aims to answer three questions: 1. What is the role of AI in academic libraries; 2: issues and concerns on AI in higher education; 3: professional competency in the era of AI. In the presentation, an AI Chatbot (Aisha) developed by Zayed University librarians will be showcased.