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Project News
Welcome Ontario Adult Non-Credit ESL and FSL Instructors
Ontario's Adult Non-credit ESL and FSL programming will join the Avenue community next week. More information about the benefits of this merger were presented last spring in this webinar: Avenue.ca-Onyxon.ca Merger: Why and what’s in it for the Avenue community?.
eUnit Catalogue/Coursebuilder Update
Avenue's eUnit Catalogue/Coursebuilder will be available during the first week of September. As a result of the merger with Ontario's web portal for Adult Non-credit ESL programming, many 'new-to-Avenue' PBLA-compatible (and other) eUnits will be in the coursebuilder. Avenue teachers will be contacted by Moodle Messaging/email when it is released. The Message will include links to coursebuilder training resources.
Avenue Leadership Training, Part 1 (starting Sat. Sept 23)
Grow your learning tech skills with a community of LINC colleagues ... Engage with videos, readings, audio podcasts and discussion forums ... Dive deep on learning technology standards frameworks ... Interpret innovations and leadership theories for your local program ... Sample the worlds of Universal Design for Learning and the SAMR model ... Develop a strategic plan to improve local learning technology uptake and teaching/learning practices …
http://learnit2teach.ca/wpnew/new-part-1-learning-technology-leadership-group-begins-saturday-sept-23rd/
Web News
Meta releases multilingual speech translation model
Meta released a new speech-to-text model that can translate nearly 100 languages called SeamlessM4T, as the company continues to try to make a universal translator. SeamlessM4T … can translate speech-to-text and text-to-text for nearly 100 languages. For speech-to-speech and text-to-speech actions, it recognizes 100 input languages and converts them into 35 output languages. ...
https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/22/23840571/meta-multilingual-speech-translation-model-ai
Educators 'wholly unprepared' for student use of artificial intelligence
As students gain access to an exploding array of artificial intelligence applications — from ChatGPT to Bing and Bard AI — public schools and universities are scrambling to address the sea change to ensure academic integrity is upheld. But instead of banning AI tools or policing student work, experts say educators must reinvent how they teach through critical thinking, comparing original work to AI outputs and providing “authentic” assessments for stronger learning outcomes. ...
https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/educators-wholly-unprepared-for-artificial-intelligence
Newcomers To Canada Are Eligible For So Many Free Services & It's Not Hard To Sign Up
To help you out, the government, as well as some private organizations, actually have a lot of benefits and credits for those moving to Canada. So, if you've just landed, try not to get overwhelmed! Here's where you can go if you need help settling in: ...
https://www.narcity.com/newcomers-to-canada-eligible-for-many-free-services
Another AI Issue for Schools to Know About: Bias Against Non-Native English Speakers
As educators continue to explore what role artificial intelligence tools should or could play in the classroom, some researchers are cautioning teachers that AI detectors are biased against non-native English-speakers. …
https://www.edweek.org/technology/another-ai-issue-for-schools-to-know-about-bias-against-non-native-english-speakers/2023/08
AI-text detection tools are really easy to fool
Within weeks of ChatGPT’s launch, there were fears that students would be using the chatbot to spin up passable essays in seconds. In response to those fears, startups started making products that promise to spot whether text was written by a human or a machine. The problem is that it’s relatively simple to trick these tools and avoid detection, according to new research that has not yet been peer reviewed. ...
https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/07/07/1075982/ai-text-detection-tools-are-really-easy-to-fool/
Chromebooks Are No Longer the Best Choice for Schools
Chromebooks used to be cheaper than most models, all while providing the functions that are needed for effective learning. However, ... As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Google has also imposed an expiration date for the device, which is not a usual thing for most devices. This means that the Chromebooks become obsolete sooner, even though the hardware is still more than capable of running. ...
https://www.itechpost.com/articles/118781/20230828/chromebooks-longer-best-choice-schools.htm
UNESCO releases a new roadmap for using AI in education
The UN convened the first-ever global meeting with education ministers to discuss the risks and rewards of using chatbots in classrooms. Less than 10% of schools and universities follow formal guidance on using AI tools. … UNESCO is developing policy guidelines and frameworks for the use of generative AI in education. ...
https://digitalsocietypress.com/2023/06/06/ai-act-eu-proposes-new-copyright-rules-for-generative-ai/
Blogs
ChatGPT for Language Learning - All the Prompts You Need
Are you seeking practical ways of implementing ChatPT in the language learning classroom? … we conducted a free, live training on using ChatGPT for language learning teachers. … you will discover … practical and specific ChatGPT prompts that you can use in your EFL classroom … the most common mistakes most people make while using ChatGPT ...
https://educraft.tech/chatgpt-in-the-language-learning/
Teaching Digital Literacy To Students In 2023
The concept of digital literacy isn't new. And yet, the post-COVID era encouraged this concept's rethinking or even redefinition. While it was about basic computing skills before, it's now about the intelligent use of information technologies and the internet. ...
https://elearningindustry.com/teaching-digital-literacy-to-students-in-2023
Digital Citizenship and the Challenge of AI
The past six months have witnessed an unprecedented technological phenomenon that has the potential to revolutionize most professions. Education is now challenged with developing innovative teaching and assessment strategies. As well, stakeholders in education will need to adjust to the deepened pressures that AI tools pose for plagiarism and misinformation. …
https://blog.teslontario.org/digital-citizenship-and-the-challenge-of-ai/
Level Up Your Language Skills: How Games Can Boost Language Learning
... there are numerous positive effects of playing video games. Boosting your language skills is one of them. If you're not sure how video games can help you speak a new language better, we're here to break it down. ...
https://adventuregamers.com/news/view/level-up-your-language-skills-how-games-can-boost-language-learning
Professional Development
LearnIT2teach Annotated Bibliography New Resource: Blended learning materials for language acquisition
An article providing a comprehensive overview of the elements and principles of materials development in the context of blended language learning. The article includes a useful discussion of materials development in this context and examples of useful learning activities to optimize effective blended language learning.
http://bib.learnit2teach.ca/blog/blended-learning-materials-for-language-acquisition//
A Framework For Developing Online Tests
The advent of online and blended programs has brought about changes for teachers and learners, and it has required adjustments in curricula. One such adjustment involves the design and development of testing frameworks that can fulfill new program needs…. The update of programs must be accompanied by an update in testing methods. … If new programs have online teaching components, then the logical consequence is that testing frameworks should include online components. ....
https://careers.tesol.org/article/a-framework-for-developing-online-tests
Motivational dynamics in learning English in Second Life
This paper reports a study that investigated changes in motivational dynamics and factors contributing to changes in the levels of motivation as reported by two advanced learners of English. They were asked to use the virtual world Second Life after classes and practice English. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data revealed changes in intensity of motivation and several factors responsible for them. On that basis, some guidelines for increasing motivation in the context of virtual worlds are offered.
https://academic.oup.com/eltj/article/76/4/465/6399064
e-Resource Corner
Creative Writing for ESL Learners
A [free online] textbook for advanced English as a second language learners..
https://edtechbooks.org/introduction_to_crea
Welcome to AMEPOnline!
Online English learning for the Adult Migrant English Program. AMEP helps eligible migrants learn English so they can participate socially and economically in Australia.
https://ameponline.homeaffairs.gov.au/
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New Language Solutions is based in Ottawa, Ontario. We acknowledge that our head office is on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. Beyond Ottawa, we have staff working in locations across Canada. New Language Solutions is grateful to have the opportunity to work as a guest in communities and territories across the country, and we honour the stewardship of the many Indigenous peoples who have resided on and cared for these lands since time immemorial.
We make our acknowledgement as a sign of respect for all Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, past and present. We accept the true impact of the past and the pain suffered by generations of Indigenous Peoples. As an agency that works to support the integration of newcomers into Canadian society and cultures, we express our commitment to support activities that are inclusive of Indigenous Peoples. We resolve to address a history of injustice to First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples.
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