2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR
Tech Slam 8: Ethics & Accountability in CALL
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 7:00–8:00 p.m. ET (6:00–7:00 p.m. CT)
Join MAALLT for an engaging evening of innovative ideas, practical strategies, and thought-provoking discussions about ethics and accountability in language learning technologies!
The Mid-Atlantic Association of Language Learning Technology (MAALLT) invites language educators, instructional technologists, researchers, and technology enthusiasts to Tech Slam 8: Ethics & Accountability in CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning) on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies increasingly shape language education, questions surrounding ethical practices, responsible technology integration, and accountability have never been more relevant. How can educators and students navigate these challenges while harnessing technology’s potential to enhance language teaching and learning?
Tech Slam 8 will explore these questions through a series of dynamic, five-minute micro-presentations highlighting innovative tools, effective practices, and fresh perspectives on technology-enhanced language education.
What Is a Tech Slam?
Inspired by the fast-paced format of a poetry slam, MAALLT’s Tech Slam brings together presenters who share useful tools, creative strategies, and practical applications of technology in language education.
Each presenter has approximately five minutes to introduce a tool, demonstrate a practice, or share an idea that can benefit language teachers and learners. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations, providing opportunities for discussion and exchange.
What to Expect
Tech Slam 8 will emphasize the ethical considerations and responsibilities of both instructors and students in computer-assisted language learning. Presentations will explore how technology can support effective, equitable, and responsible language education.
Whether you’re interested in artificial intelligence, digital literacy, student accountability, instructional innovation, or emerging educational technologies, this event promises valuable insights and ideas you can bring into your own teaching and learning environments.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Time: 7:00–8:00 p.m. Eastern | 6:00–7:00 p.m. Central
Format: Live virtual event
Cost: Free
Registration: Required; limited to the first 100 registrants
Everyone is welcome! You do not need to be a MAALLT member or reside in the Mid-Atlantic region to attend.
A recording will be made available afterward to MAALLT members who cannot participate in the live event.
Register Today!
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow language educators, discover innovative approaches to technology-enhanced learning, and contribute to important conversations about ethics and accountability in CALL.
REGISTER FOR TECH SLAM 8
Space is limited to the first 100 registrants, so reserve your spot today!
MAALLT — Connect • Learn • Lead
Tech Slam 8 — Call for Proposals
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | 7:00–8:00 PM Eastern Time | Online
PROPOSALS DUE: September 25, 2026 (bit.ly/maallt-tech-slam-8)
The suggested theme of presentations for Tech Slam 8 will be the importance of ethical considerations and the accountability of both students and their instructors in CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning). We also welcome proposals that involve teaching, learning, or promoting languages more broadly through technology.
A Tech Slam is like a poetry slam, but instead of focusing on music, a Tech Slam consists of multiple 5-minute micro-presentations about useful tools or practices related to language learning technologies.
Presenters will introduce their tool or practice and explain its benefits to teachers or learners. A question and answer period will conclude the event.
The live event will be open to the first 100 registrants, and the recorded event will be shared afterwards with MAALLT members who are unable to attend live.
You do not need to be a member of MAALLT or live in the Mid-Atlantic region in order to present or attend. Presenters whose proposals have been accepted will be notified shortly after the submission deadline.
Book Slam 2
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 7:00–8:00 PM Eastern Time | Online
MAALLT is excited to continue this new event format with our second Book Slam!
Building on the success of our first event, the Book Slam is a twist on our popular Tech Slam series. It brings together language educators and edtech enthusiasts for fast-paced, engaging micro-presentations (5–10 minutes) on books or podcasts that inspire new ideas at the intersection of language, education, and technology.
Whether fiction or nonfiction, print or audio, selected titles will offer fresh perspectives and practical takeaways for our field. Presenters will highlight key insights, share connections to their work, and reflect on how these resources challenge or expand our thinking about teaching, learning, and technology.
Presenters:
| Beth Marshall | FLAVA/ Spotsylvania County Public Schools | Book (Nonfiction) | Bryan Kandel | Give Them What They Want: A Guide to Increasing Enrollment in a World Language Class |
| Ilka Kostka | Northeastern University | Book (Nonfiction) | Helaine W. Marshall and Ilka Kostka | Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach – SOFLA® |
| Betty Rose Facer | Old Dominion University | Book (Nonfiction) | Tanya K. Rodrigue and Kyle D. Stedman (2023) | Soundwriting – A Guide to Making Audio Projects / LLChat Podcast |
| Mathias Schulze / Phil Hubbard | SDSU-LARC, Language and Applied Research Center at San Diego State University | Podcast | Mat Schulze & Phil Hubbard | Opening AI for Language Learning (OAILL) |
| Allen R. Woodall | University of Memphis | Podcast | Avant Assessment | The Multiliterate Mind Podcast |
| Valentina Lukin | NFATC | Podcast | NotebookLM/Valentina Lukin | DillRu Podcast |
Be sure to follow MAALLT on Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, or join MAALLT to receive the latest updates.
2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR
Tech Slam 7: VR Ready to Save the World
The Mid-Atlantic Association for Language Learning Technology (MAALLT) held Tech Slam 7, “VR Ready to Save the World,” on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 (Earth Day!), from 7:00–8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
A Tech Slam is similar to a poetry slam, but instead of focusing on poetry, it features multiple 5-minute micro-presentations highlighting useful tools, practices, or strategies related to language learning technologies.
The theme of this Tech Slam focuses on how Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) can support and enhance language teaching and learning.Presenters:
Thank you to all presenters and attendees for participating in the event! Members and the event presenters can view the recording of the event by contacting us. Not yet a MAALLT member, become a MAALLT member today for free.
Stay tuned for updates! Be sure to follow MAALLT on Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, or join MAALLT to receive the latest updates.
Tech Slam 6: Latin It Up!
The Mid-Atlantic Association of Language Learning Technology (MAALLT) held Tech Slam 6, “Latin It Up!” on Thursday, October 16, 2025. This event was co-sponsored by FLAVA, the Foreign Language Association of Virginia.
A Tech Slam is like a poetry slam, but instead of focusing on music, a Tech Slam consists of multiple 5-minute micro-presentations about useful tools or practices related to language learning technologies.
In honor of our dear colleague Shirley Hall, who passed away earlier this year, the slam featured ways in which technology can be used for Latin, as well as talks about teaching, learning, or promoting languages more broadly through technology. Presenters:
Thank you to all presenters and attendees for participating in the event! Members and the event presenters can view the recording of the event by contacting us. Not yet a MAALLT member, become a MAALLT member today for free.
Our next Tech Slam event will be in the spring of 2026. Stay tuned! Be sure to follow us on Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, or join MAALLT to receive the latest updates.
MAALLT’s First BookSlam!
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 | 7:00–8:00 PM Eastern Time | Online
MAALLT was excited to introduce a brand-new event format: our first-ever BookSlam!
A twist on our popular Tech Slam series, the BookSlam brings together language educators and edtech enthusiasts for fast-paced, engaging micro-presentations (5–10 minutes) on books or podcasts that inspire new ideas at the intersection of language, education, and technology.
Whether fiction or nonfiction, print or audio, the selected titles offer fresh perspectives and practical takeaways for our field. Presenters highlighted a favorite insight, how the resource connects to their work, or how it challenges our thinking about teaching, learning, or tech.BookSlam presenters:
Thank you to all presenters and attendees for participating in the event! Members and the event presenters can view the recording of the event by contacting us. Not yet a MAALLT member, become a MAALLT member today for free.
Our next Tech Slam event will be in the fall of 2025. Stay tuned! Be sure to follow us on Twitter (X), Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, or join MAALLT to receive the latest updates.