Moving with the times: Mobile literacy & ELT

Nicky Hockly
12.45—13.45, Room C

Our experiences of the world are increasingly mediated by mobile devices. From games and apps, to augmented reality and moblogging, mobile (or 'handheld') devices are now part of the fabric of daily life, and mobile literacy is an important skill in the 21st-century. In the arena of ELT, our learners now expect to be able to use their mobile devices in their language learning, and not just for downloading 'apps'. The affordances of even low-end mobile devices create opportunities for learners to produce content in class, not only to consume it out of class.

In this workshop we explore a number of mobile device based projects and activities, which can enhance not only our learners' English language skills, but can also help develop mobile literacy. We also consider the challenges facing teachers wishing to work with mobile devices in the classroom, and explore some of the thinking behind the current rise of the BYOD (bring your own device) approach. Participants are encouraged to bring their own devices to the session!

Biodata • Nicky Hockly is Director of Pedagogy of The Consultants-E, an online teacher training and development consultancy. She is co-author of How to Teach English with Technology (2007), Learning English as a Foreign Language for Dummies (2009), Teaching Online (2010), and Digital Literacies (2013). She has published an e-book, Webinars: A Cookbook for Educators (2012), is currently working on a book about mobile and handheld learning in ELT, and is a technophobe turned technophile.

Nicky's E-Moderation Station