Abstract Summary
This keynote presentation will focus on why researchers and teachers would want to use theory in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) rather than just focusing on what works in practice. Theories are influenced by our cultural values and belief systems and they help us to make sense of the world. The theoretical choices made by the researcher or teacher impact on the approach that s/he takes, as well as on the tools and techniques used in a particular study for data collection and analysis. This presentation will provide an overview of key theories that are used in CALL research today, focusing in particular on ecological theories which have proved useful for trying to understand the impact of the digital media on language learning and teaching.

Biography
Regine Hampel is Full Professor of Open and Distance Language Learning at the Open University, UK, and Deputy Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies. Alongside teaching German, she works closely with the Associate Dean, leading a large group of researchers in the areas of education; childhood, youth and sports; languages and applied linguistics; and health, wellbeing and social care. She oversaw the faculty’s successful submission to REF 2021, the UK’s system for assessing the quality of higher education research. Regine’s own research explores the impact of using technologies for language learning and teaching, contributing to a theoretical and pedagogical framing of online learning which goes beyond narrow cognitive approaches and takes account of sociocultural theories of learning as well as the multimodal nature of the new media. She is particularly interested in the affordances of the digital media and the potential they offer for interaction and communication. This has resulted in articles, book chapters, conference presentations, keynotes, special journal issues and several books, including a monograph entitled Disruptive Technologies and the Language Classroom: A Complex Systems Theory Approach (2019). She is currently editing The Bloomsbury Handbook of Language Learning and Technology (with Ursula Stickler).

---

Authors:
Regine Hampel, The Open University, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Regine Hampel is Full Professor of Open and Distance Language Learning at the Open University, UK, and Deputy Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

Bookmark