Speakers
Description
“A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value” (Newport, 2019, p. 28) offers a timely and purposeful path forward for educators navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape. A growing number of digital education tools—including AI-powered platforms—offers English language educators countless ways to enhance instruction. However, this abundance can be overwhelming: too many options, overuse of multiple tools simultaneously, or total avoidance of integration. In many cases, these tools can become distractions rather than enhancements, resulting in digital fatigue, cognitive overload, and a diminished focus on core pedagogical values.
This presentation introduces the philosophy of digital minimalism as a sustainable framework for navigating the increasingly complex digital teaching landscape. Rather than rejecting technology, digital minimalism empowers English language educators to make intentional, pedagogically driven choices. Drawing from the presenters’ teaching experience, the session will demonstrate how minimalist strategies can foster calmer, more focused learning environments. It calls for a shift from “more tech” to “better tech,” re-centering the classroom around presence, purpose, and meaningful student-teacher interaction.
Attendees will be introduced to the core principles of digital minimalism: the cost of clutter, importance of optimization, satisfaction of intentionality, and digital declutter. They will explore low-tech lesson planning strategies and learn to engage with high-tech tools more purposefully. Attendees will leave with a clearer decision-making framework, adaptable strategies, and renewed confidence in using technology intentionally and effectively to enhance learning.
Biography
Chance Bell, Ph.D., is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Affairs at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He provides strategic leadership on global engagement, curriculum internationalization, and cross-cultural programming. Chance brings expertise in aligning institutional goals with innovative teaching practices that prepare students for global challenges.
Lan Vu, Ph.D., is the Assistant Director of International and Intercultural Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She oversees the English Language Institute and leads curriculum development focused on sustainability, intercultural learning, and academic English. With over two decades of experience in TESOL and global education, Lan is passionate about integrating critical thinking, real-world relevance, and systems thinking into language instruction.
