VDMIS Newsletter - August 2014 (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
Leadership Updates
•  MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
•  MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
•  MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR-ELECT
Articles
•  THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THREE STRATEGIES TO TEACH VOCABULARY
TESOL 2014 CONVENTION REPORTS
•  TESOL 2014 PRESENTATION REPORT: iMOVIE AS A TOOL FOR PACED READING: A TEACHING TIP
•  MULTIPLE USES OF MOVIE TRAILERS
•  USING VIDEO CLIPS TO TEACH HUMOR COMPETENCE ACROSS CULTURES
ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY
•  VDMIS OFFICERS FOR 2014-2015
•  VDMIS MISSION STATEMENT
•  VIDEO AND DIGITAL MEDIA IS: PRESENTATIONS GIVEN AT TESOL 2014
•  CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
•  MINUTES OF THE VDMIS OPEN ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR-ELECT

Scott Duarte, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA

Greetings VDMIS Members,

It used to be that technology was for the elite, for those who could afford it. Technology prices have dropped to the point where where it now really is for the masses. More students have smartphones with access to more than a million different apps (for either iPhone or Android platforms); more students have digital cameras with HD quality filming capabilities; and more students are falling under that contemporary moniker of “digital native.”

Now more than ever, we, as educators, should be embracing technology and utilizing it as another instrument in our toolbox to aid in making language learning come alive. Odds are that our students are already creating wonderful multimedia for their own private (and some public) use. Why not have them generate that same multimedia for classroom projects?

As chair-elect, I look forward to working with any and all members of the VDMIS and TESOL community to brainstorm and develop innovative multimedia activities and materials as well as to inspire others to action. I would also like to call on each member of VDMIS to do the same: Lead and motivate others by sharing your work, your students’ work, and your expertise with others within TESOL.

Help us make VDMIS grow and flourish in these times of endless possibilities.

Sincerely,

Scott Duarte