We use a variety of online tools and platforms for teaching, learning and assessment purposes. Digital study tools allow students to flexibly and actively engage in their learning journey. Students can access learning materials independently on Canvas, our digital learning platform. We also create practice quizzes and provide links for further learning. Competitive quizzes on Kahoot, flashcards on Quizlet, collaborative written work on Padlet, and real-time polls on Mentimeter are examples of the tools used in our daily teaching practice to facilitate learning and enhance engagement.
As the demand for confident and skilled language speakers grows, so does the need for digital literacy applied to language expertise. Through their language studies, students are introduced to interpreting, a competence that requires cultural awareness, linguistic skills, and mediation abilities — skills that are developed with the help of Sanako software in our language labs, which students can use to practice both in and out of class.
Alongside written translation and interpreting, audiovisual translation (AVT) will allow students to engage in authentic subtitling activities with Aegisub. By exploring the use and applications of digital technologies and AVT tools, our students gain a digital professional competence, which will enhance their employability prospects. Some of the activities are designed to help develop skills required for tomorrow's jobs.
Another example of our digitally enhanced pedagogies is the use of podcasting. Podcasts have become one of the fastest-growing online media platforms, widely used in fields such as broadcasting, entertainment, and education. Podcasts have gained popularity, particularly among younger audiences, making them ideal teaching and learning applications. As an educational tool, podcasts are used and produced at UoL to enhance students' language and research skills. They will develop their proficiency in today’s new ways of addressing audiences. At the same time, we find that creating content to share increases our students’ engagement and motivation.
Teaching and assessing using digitally enhanced tools allow us to prepare students for their professional life or further studies. For example, learning to use AI in a linguistic context and with an ethical purpose will equip students with transferable knowledge applicable in many professional environments.
Back to: Centre for Teaching Excellence in Language Learning
