The TELSIG Podcast

Today I'm talking to Dr Zoe Handley about her research on English tutors' knowledge and beliefs about the use of AI in language teaching. Zoe shares her background, starting as a language learner using technology, and details the evolution of speech and language technologies over the past 20 years. We elaborate on the potential of AI technologies in language learning apps like Duolingo and the eth...

I'm joined today by Dev Aditya of OIAI by Otermans Institute. We discuss the innovative use of small language models in education, the development and deployment of an AI teacher, and how AI can help to upscale marginalized communities. Dev shares insights into the challenges and opportunities of AI in education, the effectiveness of small language models, and the future of AI-integrated learning...

Today we delve, that’s right, delve, into the world of machine translation and its influence on education with Klaus Mundt and Michael Groves, who have been researching and writing on this topic since 2015. We explore the evolution of machine translation tools from Babel Fish to today's advanced AI models like ChatGPT. The discussion uncovers the ramifications for student voice, authenticity, acad...

As teachers, we have access to literally millions of high quality, freely-availably images thanks to resources such as Pixabay and Unsplash. In this episode we dig into the impactful use of visual metaphors in teaching with guest Dr Richard Cotterill, who shares insights from his recent research. Rich argues that visual metaphors can make abstract concepts more comprehensible for students. We expl...

E-authoring tools like Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate have had a transformative impact on education. They allow teachers and course writers to quickly create visually appealing, interactive learning materials. Despite these benefits, their uptake often remains restricted to small circles of enthusiasts. Today I talk to David Read from the University of Sheffield about and the benefits an...

How has classroom practice changed as a result of the ever increasing availability of teaching technologies? We look specifically at polling tools, and consider the broader influence of such platforms. Rob Shaw is an Educational Adviser in the Programme Design and Learning Technology Team and the Faculty contact for the Arts and Humanities. He is the service lead for Mentimeter classroom polling a...

In this episode, Sam Hazeldine discusses the integration of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in education. We discuss the potential of AR and VR to enhance learning, clarify the definitions of VR, AR, and mixed reality, and talk about their practical applications in classrooms, such as simulations and interactive learning environments. Sam also addresses the accessibility of such te...

This conversation from May 2023 took place in the wake of the launch of ChatGPT 3.5. We cover responses from institutions, policy, implications for teaching and assessment, questions raised and opportunities for research, and other topics. Stephen Gow is responsible for the coordination of standards, assessment and academic integrity at the University of York, he has been working in this evolving...