Saturday Plenary, 9:00-10:00 am, May 8, 2021

Spring Virtual Conference

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Positivity and Engagement in Online and Hybrid Teaching

This presentation will explore the concept of engagement from a personal level. We will look at how we can maximize student engagement in order to build positivity in online and hybrid classes through three best practices:

1. Knowing Your Students and Yourself,

2. Knowing Your Tools and Learning Environment, and

3. Harnessing the Power of Technology.

Students and teachers alike can struggle with how best to teach and learn a language in online or hybrid formats. We will look at technologies and strategies that you can use to engage students in their own learning with technology, as well as engaging yourself as an educator during these challenging times.

Dawn Bikowski

Dawn Bikowski, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Office of Standardization and Academic Excellence at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) in Monterey. She joined DLIFLC recently, coming from 20 years at Ohio University as an intensive English program instructor, Applied Linguistics graduate program faculty, developer and coordinator for the Online Ohio TESOL K-12 Endorsement, and academic and professional communication program director. She also has decades of experience as an English Language Specialist with the US State Department, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador, and has held several leadership positions and projects within TESOL, including a co-creator and instructor in the Developing an Online Teaching Program certificate program. Her research, publications, and teacher training work have taken her to many countries and focuses on language learning with technology and maximizing student engagement.