ELT Cast Podcast Por Benjamin L. Stewart PhD arte de portada

ELT Cast

ELT Cast

De: Benjamin L. Stewart PhD
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 ELT Cast is an educational podcast of shared teaching and learning practices and perspectives as an English-as-a-foreign-language teacher trainer. Topics include 1) becoming a more effective, efficient, and engaging communicator of the English language; 2) discussing how languages are learned; 3) discussing educational theory; and 4) discussing teaching practice. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The opinions expressed here are my personal views and do not represent the official position or endorsement of any other entity.

benjaminlstewart.substack.comBenjamin L. Stewart Educación
Episodios
  • Thesis Seminar Recap Week 15

    Thesis Seminar Recap Week 15
    May 22 2025
    Executive Summary:This document summarizes key instructions and guidelines provided for the completion of the first draft of the thesis paper and preparation for the mock presentations. The sources emphasize adherence to formatting requirements (APA 7th edition), content guidelines for specific sections (Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Method, Results/Discussion, Conclusion, Appendices, References), and preparation strategies for the mock presentations, including content, delivery, and technical aspects. Key themes include attention to detail in formatting, summarizing the paper effectively, and practicing delivery and anticipating questions for the presentation.Key Themes and Ideas:* Hard Copy Draft Review: Students are required to submit a hard copy of their first completed draft. A quick self-review in groups is encouraged, focusing on specific formatting elements.* Headings: Check that all headings (except in the method section) have 6 to 12 words. Main words should be capitalized. No punctuation should be at the end of any heading. Method section headings (Participants, Instruments, Procedure, Data Analysis) can be shorter.* Page Breaks: Specific pages should be on their own page: Title page, Authorization page, Abstract, Table of Contents, Figures/Tables (if applicable), and each Appendix. The body of the paper (Literature Review through the Conclusion paragraph) should have no page breaks.* Spacing: The entire paper should be double-spaced, with no extra space between paragraphs, headings, and text. References are an exception, with single spacing within the reference and double spacing between references.* Indentation: Each paragraph, except for the Abstract, should have a half-inch indentation.* Paragraph Count: The Abstract, Participants, Instruments, Procedure, and Data Analysis sections should each consist of only one paragraph. The final paragraph of the paper is considered the Conclusion paragraph and does not require a separate "Conclusion" heading.* Appendix Formatting: Each appendix should start on a new page with a Level 1 heading (e.g., "Appendix A") at the very top line, followed by a Level 2 heading for the appendix title.* Title Recommendations: The instructor suggests using ChatGPT to generate title ideas now that the paper is mostly complete.* If the title is longer than one line, force a return to distribute words more or less equally across two lines.* Single-space the title.* Improving Writing (Verb Usage): Students are encouraged to review their paper for overuse of the verbs "to have," "to be," and "to make" (as lexical verbs). While not forbidden, excessive use may indicate areas for improvement by substituting more dynamic verbs, often converting nouns into verbs. The instructor provides an example of how to rewrite sentences to be more concise and dynamic.* Mock Presentation Structure and Timing: The mock presentation is 20 minutes long with a 10-minute Q&A. The entire class scheduled for a specific day is expected to observe all presentations on that day.* Suggested Slide Order: Title slide, Problem and Purpose, Literature Review (multiple slides), Method, Results and Discussion (multiple slides), Conclusions, Thank You.* Approximate Timing: Problem and Purpose (30 seconds to 1 minute), Literature Review (approximately 8 minutes), Method (approximately 2 minutes), Results and Discussion (approximately 9-10 minutes).* Presentation Content: Present only the essential information that directly relates to the research questions and analyzed data. Do not attempt to present everything from the written paper due to time constraints.* Mock Presentation Delivery and Technical Aspects:* Preparation: Practice the presentation, ideally recording oneself and timing each section. Consider practicing in front of someone.* Slides: Slides are meant to support the speaker, not to be read directly. They should function as "big note cards" with key points or ideas. Each slide should focus on one main point and include a heading. Avoid paragraphs and excessive text on slides.* Visuals: Make slides visually appealing but not distracting. Use visuals like graphs, charts, tables, and images from the paper, simplifying or modifying them for the presentation. Use no more than three different font styles and sizes, and choose easy-to-read fonts. Avoid animations and complex color schemes that might reduce contrast.* Technology: Coordinate with classmates to use one computer for presentations on a given day. Test equipment beforehand, turn off automatic updates, and ensure the computer is fully charged and doesn't go to sleep. Have a backup of the presentation file (e.g., on a USB drive in addition to the computer).* Delivery: Focus on the message, not personal nervousness. Maintain eye contact with the audience, specifically the examiners during the final defense, distributing attention among them. Bring a water bottle.* Anticipate Questions: Prepare for potential questions, including ...
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Analyzing Qualitative Data

    Analyzing Qualitative Data
    Apr 21 2025
    Notes to the talkHere is a brief that summarizes the main themes and important ideas discussed in the provided sources: an audio recording ("Data Analysis_042025.mp3") of a thesis seminar session and excerpts from a document titled "Making Sense of Stories: Analyzing Qualitative Data in ELT Teacher Training." The primary focus is on data analysis techniques, particularly qualitative coding, triangulation, and the potential for incorporating quantitative elements.I. Key Themes and Important Ideas:A. Importance of Completing Data Collection Before Analysis:* The seminar leader emphasizes that data analysis should only begin after all data collection is complete. "Today's discussion is about data analysis. All of you have collected or very close to having completed uh collecting all of your data and this is an important requirement to continue the process of data analysis... If you are still trying to collect some information, know that what we talk about today uh you need to wait."* Starting analysis prematurely, before all data is gathered, is considered a "mistake."B. Understanding the Purpose of Data Analysis:* Data analysis is crucial for understanding the collected data and determining what is relevant and significant to report in the results and discussion sections of the thesis.* It helps researchers move from a large amount of raw data to focused and insightful findings. "Think of it like this. All of you are at this point, you've collected, if not all, most of your data. So you have all this data that you've collected... Ahora con todo esta información which data is not relevant... So you're going to then include this circle represents now only the information that relates to your research questions... Now from your data analysis... you're going to then figure out ok of all this information that now is relevant to my study, what is worth What is including in mys discussion?"* Not all relevant data needs to be reported; the analysis helps identify the most "important, surprising, insightful, interesting" findings.C. The Concept and Importance of Triangulation:* Triangulation involves bringing together different data sources (e.g., interviews, observations, documents) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the research topic.* It allows for comparison between what participants say they do/believe, what they actually do (observed), and their planning/reflection processes. "Think of this if it helps to look at it like this. Your um your information here is allowing you to compare different things. For example, what people say they do or believe... What do they actually do? Well, to know that, what do we have to do? Have to observe."* The seminar leader stresses the importance of having sufficient data to triangulate and encourages participants to address any concerns about this. "If anybody today right now has concerns about whether or not you have the types of data to allow you to triangulate, we need to have a discussion today."* The "Making Sense of Stories" document provides specific examples of triangulation in ELT teacher training research, such as comparing planned instructions in lesson plans with delivered instructions observed in the classroom. "Compare the planned instructions (document) with the delivered instructions (observation). Were planned ICQs actually used?"D. Introduction to Qualitative Coding:* Qualitative coding is defined as a systematic process of labeling and organizing segments of text data (transcriptions, observation notes, documents) to identify patterns, themes, and concepts relevant to the research questions. "The process of coding is the process of labeling text. Coding is a systematic way to make sense of rich, complex, and often messy reality of language."* All audio and video data must be transcribed into text before coding. Microsoft Word Online's transcription feature is suggested as a tool.* The coding process involves identifying text segments (words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs) that relate to the research questions and assigning specific labels or "codes" to them. "You're coding things that relate to your research questions... Porque estamos en este proceso distinguendo, tenemos que distinguir qué sirve para nuestro estudio, qué no sirve, vamos a dejarlo fuera."E. Levels of Qualitative Coding:* The seminar introduces a three-level inductive coding approach:* Level One (Initial Codes): Creating very specific labels directly from the text, the literature review, or using in vivo codes (participant's exact words). "The first you create... the code, the label comes from your literature review... Using a label a code directly. If anx dijo eso... Tú puedes seleccionar esta frase. ¿Qué lebo puedes poner? Anxious, anxiety."* Level Two (Categories): Grouping the initial, specific codes into broader, more conceptual categories. "When we finish, you should have a long list of codes. And so I would do it in something like Excel... Les Segundo nivel es ...
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    2 h y 28 m
  • Thesis Seminar Recap #9

    Thesis Seminar Recap #9
    Mar 30 2025
    The tutoring sessions across the provided excerpts consistently focused on guiding students through the crucial data collection phase of their thesis research. Several overarching themes and pieces of advice emerged:* Emphasis on Triangulation: A fundamental principle emphasized in almost every session was the importance of collecting data from multiple sources: observations, interviews, and documents [e.g., 28, 63, 166]. This triangulation is essential for robust and credible findings.* Alignment with Research Questions and Literature Review: Students were repeatedly reminded to ensure that their data collection efforts were directly aligned with their specific research questions [e.g., 50, 63, 153] and grounded in their literature review [e.g., 75, 111, 160]. They were advised to revisit their literature reviews, identify key terms and concepts [e.g., 66, 111, 160], and use these to guide their observations and interview questions [e.g., 75, 114].* Strategic Data Collection: The tutors stressed the need for a systematic approach to data collection. This involved planning and conducting focused interviews [e.g., 54, 114], taking detailed observation notes [e.g., 65, 71], and actively pursuing relevant documents [e.g., 28, 32, 63, 74, 166] such as lesson plans, syllabi, and student work.* Iterative Process and Flexibility: Data collection was presented as an iterative process of collecting, analyzing, and adapting [e.g., 52, 171]. Students were encouraged to review their collected data regularly to identify gaps, refine interview questions, and adjust their observation focus. Flexibility and proactive problem-solving were also emphasized [e.g., 104, 173].* Time Management and Deadlines: With the April 16th deadline for data collection approaching, effective time management and maximizing observation opportunities were consistently highlighted [e.g., 37, 104, 116, 159].* Preparation for Analysis and Writing: While the primary focus was on data collection, the tutors also provided preliminary guidance on preparing for data analysis (e.g., considering coding) and starting to think about the structure of the method section [e.g., 147, 148] and future writing stages [e.g., 150].* Utilizing Feedback and Resources: Students were directed to utilize the feedback provided during tutoring sessions [e.g., 129, 156], review recap videos [e.g., 38, 57, 138, 152, 174], and explore resources like Notebook LM for summarizing and gaining new perspectives on their work [e.g., 39, 57, 138, 152, 175].* Importance of Appendix: Students were instructed to include blank copies of their research instruments (consent forms, interview guides, observation sheets) in the appendix of their thesis document [e.g., 75, 106, 118, 140, 161].Insights for Proceeding Further During the Next Week (Concluding April 16, 2025):Given that the data collection phase is nearing its end (April 16th), students should prioritize the following actions based on the recurring advice from their tutoring sessions:* Finalize Data Collection: This is the last full week for collecting data before the suggested cut-off around April 11th or the firm deadline of April 16th. Students must maximize their remaining observation hours and conduct any planned final interviews [e.g., 37, 104, 159]. Proactive communication with teachers to schedule and confirm these sessions is crucial [e.g., 157, 173].* Secure Outstanding Documents: Any pending documents (lesson plans, syllabi, worksheets, etc.) are vital for triangulation. Students should make a concerted effort to obtain these materials this week [e.g., 74, 126, 168], following up with teachers and school administrators as needed [e.g., 169, 173], while being mindful of their time and communication preferences.* Review and Consolidate Collected Data: Students should dedicate time to review all the data they have gathered so far (observation notes, interview transcripts or notes, and documents) [e.g., 52, 170]. This review will help them identify any remaining gaps in their data, ensure they have sufficient information to address their research questions, and potentially refine their focus for any final data collection activities.* Reflect on Alignment with Research Questions and Literature: As they review their data, students should actively reflect on how the collected information aligns with their research questions and the key concepts discussed in their literature review [e.g., 75, 160]. Noting these connections will be essential for the analysis phase. If they identify areas where the data seems inconsistent with their theoretical framework, they should make note of this for further exploration in their analysis.* Organize and Prepare for Analysis: While formal coding might begin later, students can start organizing their data in a systematic way (e.g., by research question, by participant, by theme). Reviewing the resources on coding mentioned in some sessions [e.g., 22, 24, 158] might be beneficial to start ...
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    5 m
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