Page 22 - ELG2205 May Issue 480

TRENDING IN TECHNOLOGY .

This year’s IATFEL goes big in Belfast for its return to a face-to-face event
This year’ s IA TFEL goes big in Belfast for its r etur n to a face-to-face event

Come with educationalist Pete Sharma to take a sneak peek at some of the edtech exhibitors who will be showing their wares

PHOTO BY KAELI HEARN ON UNSPLASH

Northern Ireland’s vibrant capital makes a great base for the next IATEFL conference

s all eyes turn to the 55th IATEFL TCE draws on an impressive team of experts. local consultancy projects in such areas
conference in Belfast, nearly 40 of Its training courses are quality assured by as teacher education, assessment reform,
the conference sponsors are lined up AQUEDUTO, the Association for Quality curriculum development and academic
A to exhibit at the event. These range Education and Training Online. This management. Under its consultancy arm, it
from publishers, universities and language combination of pedagogical experience with has been involved in many projects. These
schools to companies involved in assessment, knowledge of technology makes it well worth include the development of an online test for
training and materials development. Here we consideration. a major Brazilian language school chain, and
look at those sponsors who run consultancy the planning and delivery of English medium
services and take a peek at some of the latest TransformELT instruction programmes delivered at a number
software designed to help language learners. The name of the organisation is well-chosen of universities.
and the website spells out what they do: “We All three consultancies have worked on
Consultancies support change initiatives at every level of projects with the British Council, which is also
We know that consultants offer expert the education process.” It too draws on an exhibiting at IATEFL and whose extensive
professional advice, but the actual process impressive team of experts, as well as listing work in ELT over the years needs little or no
of consultancy is often far from transparent. an extensive list of projects on the website. introduction.
Fortunately, company websites offer detailed Unsurprisingly, some of these are dedicated
descriptions of past projects which help us gain to online, blended and hybrid learning. Language learning software
insights into their services. Let us look at three Several projects are outlined, in such areas Browsing through the latest publications has
such organisations. as continuing professional development and always been a personal conference highlight.
mentoring. One key feature is the need for The pandemic has ensured that digital
TCE analysis, so Transform ELT offers a detailed offerings are no longer an optional alternative
TCE is an education consultancy specialising exploration of a client’s context which aims to print delivery, but have now taken centre
in online education, web design and course to ensure that interventions are practical, stage as blended and hybrid teaching form part
design. Their website includes a database sustainable and, especially, specifically of the new norm. The range of content housed
with information on recent major projects, appropriate. in Learning Management Systems is broader
such as a strategic plan for a blended than ever. Well-known ELT publishers Oxford
learning roll-out in the Basque Country of NILE University Press, Cambridge University
Spain. A company well-known for training NILE is a well-established provider of training and Macmillan are joined by a raft of other
teachers to integrate evidence-based and development for English language publishers. Here are a few stands to keep an
learning technologies into their teaching, teaching. It works on global, national and eye out for.
22 May 2022