Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

This is more than a CPD portal. It's a growing professional community recognising the crucial role language educators play in shaping globally minded, culturally aware young people.

Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

Bernadette's closing reminder captured the platform's ethos perfectly: "No one is evaluating you, you are evaluating yourself." LEO trusts teachers to take charge of their own professional learning.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

One standout feature is the inclusion of authentic classroom examples, including multilingual learners connecting home languages to new ones, and a real focus on celebrating linguistic diversity.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

Dr Simon Coffey from King's College London called LEO "a treasure trove" that bridges the gap between academic research and practical teaching, restoring continuity to a profession that has sometimes felt fragmented.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

The Expert View Pathway provides a library of professional learning videos from specialists in phonology, EAL, and applied linguistics, with built-in reflection moments and linked reading.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

The Leadership in Languages Pathway supports aspiring and current leaders with tools for curriculum design, managing change, and advocacy. As Josie Lyon noted, leadership often feels like an "invisible skill" for many MFL teachers.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

The AI and EdTech Pathway I created as NCLE AI Project Lead explore how AI can support planning, assessment, and practice. Ten video modules cover real applications like generating differentiated materials and supporting speaking and writing, always with pedagogy first.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

The platform features four distinct pathways. The German Pathway, created with Goethe-Institut, offers ten modules promoting reflection and microlearning, open to all language teachers, not just German specialists.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

LEO brings together teacher-led inquiry, academic research, and practical classroom innovation in one accessible platform. It's built around the Five E Model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

Hosted by Professor Bernadette Holmes MBE, the event showcased a truly impressive free resource for all language educators, from early career teachers to school leaders.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 6h

This afternoon, I attended the official launch of the National Consortium for Languages Education's brand-new professional learning platform, Language Educators Online (LEO).

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

Give it a go. It’s a small change that could make your workflow smoother and your search experience smarter.

Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

If you’d like to set this up, I made a guide showing how to create Chrome shortcuts like this one (including ChatGPT, YouTube, and others): docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Time-Saving Tip for Teachers: Use Chrome Shortcuts to Search and Open Sites Faster

Time-Saving Tip for Teachers: Use Chrome Shortcuts to Search and Open Sites Faster As teachers, we’re constantly switching between tabs, platforms, and planning tools. Whether it’s accessing Google D...

docs.google.com

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

Now, I just type n + Tab + my query and I get instant AI-powered answers via Google AI Mode. This builds on how I already use site search with y + Tab for YouTube or o + Tab for the Chrome Web Store. No extra clicks. No interruptions.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

I created a new one-letter shortcut in Chrome to use it:

Name: Google AI Mode
Shortcut: n
URL: www.google.com/search?udm=5...

Google Search

www.google.com

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

So I asked Perplexity for the URL pattern behind AI Mode. They gave me this: www.google.com/search?udm=5...

Google Search

www.google.com

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

AI Mode is Google's new conversational search feature powered by Gemini. It provides detailed, follow-up-ready answers right on the search page—almost like chatting with an assistant. I wondered: can I launch AI Mode searches directly from the Chrome Omnibox where I already do most of my searching?

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

Curious, I watched this helpful video that explains how AI Mode works: youtu.be/f9YgsdA4BgI?...

Google AI Mode Search Tutorial: From Feeling Lucky to Feeling Unstoppable

YouTube video by Kevin Stratvert

youtu.be

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

For example, typing c + Enter opens my iCloud Calendar, saving precious seconds each time that add up during the day. Today, I came across Google AI Mode for the first time via a Verge article announcing its expansion to more languages and countries.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 11h

One of my favourite Chrome productivity hacks is using single-letter shortcuts in the address bar (Omnibox) to instantly open or search my go-to websites without typing full URLs.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 15h

It promises to be a fantastic day of ideas, networking and inspiration for MFL teachers. To register, email [email protected] with your name and school.

Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 15h

I’ll demonstrate how AI can save time, boost creativity and align seamlessly with the new GCSE, with plenty of audience participation throughout.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 15h

My session, The Wow Factor: Creating a New GCSE Languages Lesson with AI, will show how to build a complete lesson live in real time, covering listening, speaking, reading and writing.

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Joe Dale @joedale.bsky.social · 15h

I’m delighted to be speaking at Beyond the Language Barrier, a free CPD event for MFL teachers at Bradford Grammar School on 29th November.

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Reposted by Joe Dale

Gillian Campbell-Thow @senoract.bsky.social · 1d

educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/eef-blo...

EEF blog: Getting to the root of vocabulary instruction

The EEF is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and educational achievement.

educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk

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