Ben Knight is Head of Language Content Research & Pedagogy at Oxford University Press.  He is responsible for making sure there is a clear research-informed pedagogical approach underpinning Oxford ELT courses and learning materials.  He is particularly focused on using data-driven digital learning materials to help teachers and learners be more successful in their language learning.  He works with innovative thinkers in language pedagogy and research, and uses that to support professional development and educational reform projects around the world.

He studied Linguistics at the University of York and Applied Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh. He then became a teacher, trainer and lecturer, in schools, universities and the British Council, in various countries around the world – Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Italy and the UK.  For a number of years he specialised in assessment, developing new exams at Cambridge Assessment and managing vocational qualifications at City & Guilds, and now combines his expertise in assessment and learning to provide a holistic and evidence-based approach to education. 

Richard Harrison is an author, teacher trainer and publisher based in the UK and also in Oman. He studied at King’s College (University of London), Manchester University and Reading University where he obtained his MA in Applied Linguistics. Since then has taught at universities throughout the Middle East region for more than 25 years. He also lived in Moscow for three years working for the British Council as the ESP consultant for the Russian Federation. Richard is the founder of Canford Publishing which is based in London and Muscat. His main academic interests are the teaching of writing, English for Academic Purposes, language change and also critical thinking. Richard has more than 30 ELT publications to his name including: Framework: Academic Writing and Critical Thinking (Canford Publishing). He is also a co-author of the popular OUP series Headway Academic Skills.

Presentation title: “Adding Critical Thinking to a Language Skills Programme”  

Paul Woodfall, B.A (Hons), Dip.Tefla, Dip Ed. Man., is OUP’s Regional Training Co-ordinator for Middle East and Central Asia. He has given training workshops from K1 -12, and trained English Faculty at universities in several different countries around the world including: Spain, UAE, KSA, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman. He has lived and worked in the region for over 20 years. Before joining OUP in 2011, Paul was ICT Co-ordinator, Team Leader for Cambridge English Language Assessment, an IELTS examiner for 9 years (IELTS examiner trainer for six of those years) as well as teacher and teacher trainer based at the British Council in Dubai, UAE. Specifically interested in “learning by doing”, his main goal is to promote a greater understanding of student-centered, inquiry-based learning approaches, with the overall aim of encouraging critical thinking and the development of good study skills at all levels during the educational process.

Presentation title: “How to Engage and Motivate Students in Online Classes” 

Yuliya Schmaltz, Ph. D, TESOL Methodology Instructor and MOOC Lead Co-Facilitator, University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She has worked in the field of higher education for over 15 years, part of which she worked in Kazakhstan and in Central Europe. Her professional experience includes EFL, ESL, and teacher training. In addition to teaching, Yuliya’s expertise include developing and maintaining program and course curricula.

Presentation title: “Lesson Planning - Using Backwards Design' based on TESOL Methodology course”