TESOL Immersion and the 2030 Agenda in OpenSim
TESOL Immersion and the 2030 Agenda in OpenSimulator for Competences, Educational Transformation and Sustainability
TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
The 2030 Agenda refers to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out by the United Nations
Achieving Educational Transformation involves focusing on a set of Competences that operate at different levels for social, economic and environmental sustainability. From her own teaching perspective, Helena Galani illustrates how using innovative immersivity to teach English in the metaverse around the 17 SDGs can stimulate learning scenarios whilst preparing 21st century learners with Competences which are essential for sustainable development, active citizenship, employability, and prosperity. Through examples in virtual worlds, the presentation focuses on ways in which integrating global issues in the contemporary immersive English language classroom in OpenSimulator can positively impact learning experiences and capability building towards our shared vision of humanity and a social contract, with reference to the United Nations Sustainable Goals.
Speaker
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Helena Galani
Accredited TESOL/EAP (online) educator, Helena Galani (Dip. RSA, University of Cambridge/UCLES; M.A ELT, University of Nottingham) blends her lessons in immersive VWs for online, flipped and hybrid classes. She owns ELT Treasure Island, Kitely, OpenSim and taught/trained EFL teachers for INDIRE, EdMondo. As EVO moderator and as Speaker, Helena trains language teachers to use Virtual Worlds with Transmedia Storytelling, games and Interactive Scenarios. Helena is EduNation, Second Life/OpenSim resident, CAMELOT.eu Award winner and presenter, actively supporting the value of VWs and machinima to promote language acquisition. With her recent passion for creating online courses, Helena is an EdTech expert using an immersive language teaching approach. As presenter for VWBPE, VRT, NYS TESOL, JALT CALL, SLMOOC and TESOL Greece, Helena highlights the usefulness of designing games, Interactive Scenarios and Transmedia Storytelling experiences in VWs for ELT/EAP.