UTech, Ja. Voices

VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | January – April 2020 22 6 th Hilory Pamela Kelly Distinguished Lecture looks at Navigating Language Teaching and Learning in the Digital Era M rs. Michelle Stewart-Mckoy, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, Researcher and self-described “eLearning enthusiast”, delivered the 6th lecture in the Hilory Pamela Kelly Distinguished Lecture Series on January 23, 2020 at the Papine Campus. She spoke on the theme: “#P.I.C.N.I.C.: Navigating Language Teaching and Learning in the Digital Era”. Mrs. Stewart-McKoy’s lecture focused on the need for the integration of eLearning technology into the teaching of language, and the use and application of specific technological and distance-learning advances to assist with the delivery of language education. She argued that the current delivery of language education in the digital space failed to take into account the needs, capabilities and interests of students, and was failing in its efforts to keep students interested and active in learning. “For example,” she explained, “we are told that our students are interested in games, but we have very little games in our teaching. And we have very little idea about gamification and what it does and how to move forward with integrating it in our classroom.” On the basis of research conducted by the Language, Teaching and Research Centre (LTRC), Mrs. Stewart-McKoy concluded that it was essential that educators incorporate digital tools into the teaching of language, citing a positive relationship between the application of online game platforms, chatrooms and other technology and the engagement of students with educational material. She urged educators to become up-to-date on digital tools, in order to provide the best and most accessible language education available in the digital age. Mrs. Pamela Kelly, University Orator and Site Coordinator for the UTech Academy, brings greetings at the 6th Hilory Pamela Kelly Distinguished Lecture. Since 2014 the annual lecture series has been held in her honour. The series marks the tremendous contribution that Mrs. Kelly has made to the University in the development of English Language Education and the establishment of the Self- Access Learning Centre in the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies now the Language, Teaching and Research Centre (LTRC).