Redefining Language Learning: Taylor’s Educators Inspire Innovation at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah

Dr. P. Thivilojana, Senior Lecturer at the School of Education, and Mr. Faisal Athar Mohd Fadzil, XR Specialist from Taylor’s Virtual Online Future Technology and Extended Reality (VORTEX) XR Lab, were recently invited to deliver guest lectures at the Centre for Modern Languages, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Pekan, Pahang. Their sessions, held as part of the professional development programme Practical Instructional Approaches 2025, attracted over 80 participants comprising academics, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The lectures exemplified Taylor’s University’s ongoing commitment to advancing digital innovation and pedagogical excellence in higher education. Dr. Thivilojana’s session, titled “TPACK and AI for Engaging 21st Century Language Learners,” equipped participants with practical strategies for integrating technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), into language teaching and learning. Grounded in the TPACK framework, the lecture guided educators in harmonising technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge to design engaging and impactful learning experiences. In her presentation, Dr. Thivilojana demonstrated how AI can be leveraged to generate creative writing prompts, stimulate meaningful discussion, and foster deeper learner engagement. She also highlighted the transformative potential of immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality in enriching language education through interactive and contextually driven experiences.

Mr. Faisal Athar conducted the second session, leading a hands-on workshop on the use of immersive learning environments and AI tools for content creation. Participants explored innovative approaches to lesson design that cultivate critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration, key competencies for 21st-century learners.

This collaborative initiative underscores Taylor’s University’s thought leadership in future-ready education and its steadfast commitment to empowering educators to harness emerging technologies for transformative teaching and learning.