Whither the textbook: innovative learning materials in the 2020s

The paper textbook is still the mainstay of ELT classrooms around the world, despite the arrival of the 2020s. Besides the environmental concerns of using paper materials likely to be discarded at course end, there are arguments for alternatives that encourage, for instance, more learner independence (Donnelly, 2017). This can involve access to resources such as video lectures or digital learning objects with automatic feedback, both of which enable learners to study outside the classroom at their own pace, free of reliance on an instructor to provide information and correct answers. Another important aspect is learner engagement (Tomlinson, 2018) and the integration of multi-media in technology-based materials such as e-textbooks intuitively would seem to appeal to English learners who generally own one or more mobile devices and have become accustomed to consuming information primarily through them. In this colloquium, members of the Curriculum Design and Materials Development Community will demonstrate and lead discussions about some alternatives to the paper-based textbook, including e-textbooks, widgets, textbook-free courses, learner-created materials and even AI-produced activities. By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of how ELT materials might better serve learner needs as the new decade progresses.