Our lightning talks are a series of dynamic 10-minute talks which are designed to give an targeted insight into a variety of different topics of current interest.

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1 – 'Instructional design'

Instructional design has become a buzzword in recent years, especially with the rise of online learning since the pandemic. This talk will demystify the term and explore how instructional design principles and processes are applied to create engaging learning and training experiences. The talk will articulate a common instructional design process, beginning with the analysis of a problem or opportunity, moving on to the design and development stages, and concluding with rollout and evaluation.

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Miranda Hamilton has 17 years of ELT experience across Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the MENA region. She works as a teacher trainer on courses such as CELTA, a materials writer, an academic manager, and an English-language examiner. She recently transitioned to instructional design and holds a Diploma in Digital Learning Design. In addition to CELTA, CELTYL, and DELTA qualifications, she has a Fine Art degree, which has influenced her approach to creating instructional content.

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2 – 'Strengths-based teaching: the what, the why and the how'

How can we create a positive classroom environment where students are engaged, confident and experience high levels of well-being? Strengths-based teaching, grounded in the science of wellbeing and optimal human functioning, focuses on identifying and nurturing students’ strengths to achieve these goals. In this lightning talk we’ll explore the principles of this approach, discuss its relevance for educational publishing, and explore practical ways to implement it.

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Jasmin Silver is an Educational Consultant and Researcher specializing in ELT. With over 12 years of experience in the education sector, she enhances language teaching and learning through the application of research. Jasmin has taught English in South Korea, Germany, and online, and she collaborates with educational publishers to improve learning materials and outcomes. She is also a Research Associate on the Progression in Primary Languages project, investigating language learning among primary school students in England.

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3 – 'English with Science: the two-syllabus authoring challenge of STEM + ELT materials'

Schools and publishers increasingly seek to achieve STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) learning through the English syllabus. So how do ELT materials writers build materials for multiple curricula? The DLA team often creates its CEFR-aligned resources for several science frameworks. They will offer insights and tips around learning design, workflow approaches, and writer skillsets in builds of English-plus-Science content. Case study: DLA’s set of 30 Ladybird graded readers prepares students for Science instruction in English. 

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Stephen Haggard and Elena Deleyto are producers at Digital Learning Associates. They’ve spent three years reworking DLA’s library of ELT video and materials, to align them additionally to other syllabus including SEL, Sustainability, and STEM. With backgrounds in creative media they approach the process of developing resources for twin curricula of science and English as a challenge for team and workflow as well as creative learning design. 

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4 – 'Decolonizing the curriculum'

In this lightning talk, we will explore how coloniality manifests in published materials and demonstrate how decoloniality can look like in practice. The goal is to raise awareness of the prevailing impact of the colonial history and the damage it still has on today's published works. 

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Dr Amina Douidi is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and Intercultural Communication consultant. She holds a PhD in Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics from the University of Southampton, UK, where she investigated interculturality in Algerian English textbooks and language classrooms. She is a DEI reviewer for publishers and pre-sessional EAP tutor in UK Higher Education. She also acts as Co-Chair of TESOL ICIS championing contributions from teachers and researchers from the Global Majority.