Making Connections

Larry Udry, Divine Words College, Epworth, Iowa, USA

In this column, I want to introduce you to two CALL-IS members- one who is currently a very new at-large Steering Committee member and the other a former at-large SC member and a member of the Newsletter Editing Team.

For each newsletter, I invite members to answer a set of questions:

• What is your favorite platform?
• What is the one indispensable tool/webpage?
• What is your most unexpected source of information about CALL?
• What was your favorite CALL creation?
• What are you working on now?
• What area would you like to see developed/researched?
• In a sentence, what advice would you give to a newbie starting out in CALL?

I hope you enjoy this opportunity to make CALL connections with our members as they share their experiences, advice, and inspirations. Please e-mail me at [email protected] if you have suggestions or contributions to "Making Connections."

Yousra Ferchichi Member at Large: Social Media Co-Manager and Webinar Co-Host:

Years in the CALL-IS: 8 months (May 2024 – Now)

What is your favorite platform?

MagicSchool AI has become an indispensable tool for teachers seeking to take their lessons to the next level! After completing professional development training on the platform, I’ve found it invaluable for differentiating classroom activities to suit students’ varying levels and planning lessons tailored to project-based learning (PBL).

The tool is exceptional because it also helps teachers provide personalized student feedback, making it an essential tool for modern classrooms.

One standout feature of MagicSchool AI is its ability to export quizzes directly to Google Forms with just a click, like magic! As a part of the Pioneer program members, I intend to organize PD for teachers on how to integrate the tool into their classroom experience.

What is the one indispensable tool/webpage?

Educato AI for Educators is another game-changer. This interactive learning platform supports teacher-entrepreneurs by enabling them to create lessons from existing files or AI-generated content.

While I still host courses on platforms like Canvas, integrating AI for instructional design has proven to be highly valuable.

What is your most unexpected source of information about CALL?

As a gamer myself, I appreciate gamifying the learning process in the English language classroom for my students. I was the president of committees and part of the oral defense of students delivering their final projects on virtual worlds and video games. What was striking to me was their passion for learning English through video games. These learning modalities also enabled them to collaborate with their peers to write their scripts and create their storyboards. Many platforms are available on the market. I have experimented with a few that I added to my toolbox for my digital storytelling course such as Engage VR.

What was your favorite CALL creation?

I enjoyed remixing my Ikigai and Kaizen podcasts with Notebook.LM. The meta-podcast reflected on the different episodes and created an AI conversation and study questions for further analysis. The audio file generated with the tool can be downloaded or embedded in any teacher’s website or LMS platform to improve students’ language proficiency.

Notebook LM is free of charge, user-friendly, and can be accessed easily through any Gmail account.

What are you working on now?

I am currently developing a methodology by integrating AI into my teaching-coaching practice. I have delivered a webinar with the Career Development Professional Learning Network and will be delivering an in-person workshop to colleagues in Egypt with NILE TESOL. The purpose is to use AI as an empowering tool for professionals and academics to reflect on their professional and life goals.

What area would you like to see developed/researched?

As an enthusiast about CALL, I envision global teachers delivering their lessons and training in a VR mode. In resource-limited areas in the world, this initiative can be further developed to equip centers with such technologies for more inclusive immersive learning experiences.

In a sentence, what advice would you give to a newbie starting out in CALL?

Technology in the classroom is exciting, but we shouldn't forget to build on the foundational principles of ELT as we embark on this stellar journey!

Larry Udry has worked at Divine Word College, a small Catholic seminary in Epworth, Iowa, since 2003. He has published the CALL-IS Newsletter and has served on the CALL-IS Steering Committee since 2009. Recently, he revised the second edition that has an accompanying app of an environmentally-themed ESL e-text with Kendall Hunt. Prior to his position at Divine Word College, he worked in UT Martin for eleven years, where he published the TNTESOL Newsletter.