TI17: AI and Italian

WORKSHOP MATERIALS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS BELOW

Teaching Italian XVII, AI and Italian: An Algorithm for Success, will be held during the Settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo at the Conference Center on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning present a paradigm shift in language education, offering opportunities and challenges for educators and students. Since “Teaching Italian III (2010) Technology: Getting with the Program,” we have witnessed the rapidly evolving relationship between technology and language teaching and learning. Computers and digital tools have revolutionized Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) programs, offering learners new opportunities. “AI and Italian: An Algorithm for Success,” welcomes you to register and join us in preparing for the transformative landscape of language learning in the era of AI.

Workshops

Educators can cultivate personalized, inclusive learning environments that prioritize student well-being by leveraging AI-driven tools and resources. From adaptive learning systems to emotional intelligence recognition and chatbots for support, AI holds the promise of enhancing both teaching efficacy and student engagement.
Participants will learn about different AI applications to use in the classroom and to facilitate a pedagogy of kindness and will apply the knowledge of different AI applications in their own classrooms and become more knowledgeable about how AI can benefit (not hinder) the classroom experience. We will access various AI technologies on our devices (phones, laptops, iPads etc.) and we will work through them together.
(Presenter: Marco Lettieri)

Presentation Daria Mizza

L’intelligenza artificiale generativa (GAI) sta rivoluzionando il panorama educativo, offrendo nuove opportunità per promuovere l’apprendimento e lo sviluppo delle competenze degli studenti. In particolare, la GAI può essere un prezioso strumento per migliorare le abilità di produzione scritta, sia in lingua madre che straniera.
Questo workshop si propone di esplorare le potenzialità e le implicazioni della GAI applicata all’insegnamento della scrittura nell’italiano come lingua straniera (ILS) nella scuola superiore. La finalità è quella di fornire agli insegnanti una panoramica di questo campo in evoluzione, discutendo sia i suoi potenziali benefici che le sfide e i rischi associati al suo utilizzo.

AI in class: how to harness the power of this technology and improve teaching
The workshop delves into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in language education, with a specific focus on its application within the language classroom. It examines how AI technologies, including language learning platforms, chatbots, and virtual language assistants, can revolutionize teaching practices and optimize language acquisition. By harnessing AI, language educators can personalize instruction, provide real-time feedback, and create immersive learning experiences tailored to individual student needs. The presentation also addresses the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating AI into language education, offering practical insights and strategies for effective implementation. Through the strategic use of AI tools, language teachers can unlock new avenues for fostering linguistic proficiency and cultural fluency, ultimately empowering students to thrive in a globalized world.
(Presenter: Carmela Scala)

Biographies

Marco Lettieri, Ph.D. University of Toronto, is currently Assistant Professor of Italian in the Departamento de Lenguas Extranjeras at the University of Puerto Rico. His research interests are in Italian language pedagogy and Medieval and Renaissance studies. He has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Arizona, University of Toronto and Indiana University. He is the recipient of several teaching excellence awards. He has presented his research at various academic conferences, including AATI/ACTFL, and has published his research in Cultura e comunicazione (Guerra Edizioni) and Mosaic: The Journal for Language Teachers. He is the author of the monograph Word and Image in Alfonso d’Aragona’s Manuscript Edition of the Divina Commedia (SEF: Società Editrice Fiorentina, 2021).

Dr. Daria Mizza teaches Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Technology at the American University in Cairo (AUC) Department of Educational Studies. She also serves as an educational technology consultant in the Center for Teaching Excellence and Innovation (CTEI) at Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Mizza’s research is at the forefront of educational technology, focusing on its transformative impact on curriculum and instruction in higher education and K-12 settings. Her work emphasizes the critical role of research-driven planning and the importance of proactive educators in developing innovative, yet pedagogically sound learning solutions. She is a prolific author whose publications extensively explore the intersection of technology and teaching, often grounded in instructional design frameworks and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

Carmela Bernadetta Scala received her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the City University of New York. Her main field of research currently is Second Language Acquisition and Promoting DEI, and she is also interested in Baroque literature, fairytales, folklore, and dialect literature. She is the Director of the Italian Language Program and Study Abroad Program Director at Rutgers University.
Dr. Scala is the founder and chief editor of the Language Teaching and Technology (LTT). Recent publications include From Design to Teaching: Granting Our Students An Engaging Learning Experience Online (Cambridge Scholar Publishing, 2021); How to Foster Equality in The Language Classroom, in “Rhetoric and Sociolinguistics in Times of Global Crisis,” (IGI Global, 2021); and Replacing the ‘melting pot’ with a ‘colorful mixed salad’ in the language classroom, in “Global and Transformative Approaches Toward Linguistic Diversity” (IGI, 2022). She also edited the volume How To Actively Engage Our Students In The Language Classes, (Vernon Press, 2022). In 2023, she received Italian Embassy in New York grants which were instrumental in creating Professional Development courses for teachers in the United States and Italy, focusing on Social Justice and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Italian classroom.