Author: Nefise Zehra BAYAR, English Translation and Interpreting, Sophomore
On 8 May 2023 the event titled "Blended Learning at Educons University: Developing Digital and Critical Literacies" was organized jointly by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Translation and Interpreting and Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Business Administration. Gordana Vladisavljević and Tatjana Milosavljević, faculty members of Educons University, were hosted as speakers at the conference.
Speaking at the first session, Gordana Vladisavljević, one of the lecturers of the "Business English" course at Educons University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, talked about the concept of "Blended Learning". The term can be defined as any type of learning, training, or assessment system that integrates technology based on the theoretical and pedagogical foundations of learning. Vladisavljević talked about the program called Webquest, which incorporates this concept, and explained that Webquest is a system in which the roles of students and teachers change, based on independent learning which enables students to have the choice of online or face-to-face education options. She stated that Webquest is a site in which students receive the link directing them to the tasks they need to fulfill, and the links aim to guide them step by step to success. Vladisavljević then talked about the concept of "E-week", a study platform students can access individually or as a group online at any time.
Tatjana Milosavljević took the floor in the second session of the conference. She talked about the relationship between English as a Lingua Franca and capitalism along with neoliberalism. Milosavljević emphasized the importance of Business English and its necessity in the world market and presented the educational materials she uses in her Business English classes. At the end of the conference, she mentioned the Erasmus privileges at Educons University and shared the contact information of the Educon University Erasmus Office, which interested students can contact.