The 2018 International Conference on Materials Development and Research was held at Shanghai International Studies University. The conference, co-hosted by the Materials Development Association (MATSDA) and the Shanghai English Education and Teaching Research Center, took place from June 9 to 10, featuring the theme L2 Teacher Development Through Materials Development. Distinguished experts such as Brian Tomlinson, Rod Ellis, Alan Maley, Hitomi Masuhara, and Wen Qiufang were invited to deliver keynote speeches.
The conference commenced on June 9 at the Hongkou Campus Conference Center of Shanghai International Studies University, with Professor Shu Dingfang, chief expert of the Shanghai English Education and Teaching Research Center, delivering the welcome address. Brian Tomlinson, the founder and current chairman of MATSDA, provided a brief introduction to the 31st International Conference on Materials Development and Research, attracting participants from 17 different countries.
Professor Brian Tomlinson's keynote speech, titled Teachers Developing, emphasized that all teachers are materials developers, necessitating pre-service or in-service teacher development courses related to materials development. Subsequently, Professor Wen Qiufang from Beijing Foreign Studies University presented a theoretical framework for evaluating the effectiveness of teaching materials in the classroom ecology.
Dr. Hitomi Masuhara, Secretary-General of MATSDA, discussed using materials development assignments for teacher development, drawing examples from a postgraduate program at the University of Liverpool. Professor Rod Ellis, visiting professor at Curtin University and honorary professor at Shanghai International Studies University, focused on teacher-preparation for task-based language teaching.
Alan Maley, former Exchange Officer of the British Council and expert in English teaching methodology and materials research, explored Developing Teachers: an Emergent Approach through Materials Development. Professor Maley highlighted the limited effectiveness of current teacher training and proposed various teacher training models, including formal courses, personal inquiry and reflection, and materials development.
Throughout June 9 afternoon and June 10, scholars from around the world discussed research findings and shared insights in various sessions and poster presentations, covering topics such as curriculum and teacher development, materials development projects and teacher development, localization of materials and teacher development, school-based materials development and teacher development, teacher development in the materials evaluation process, teacher development during materials adaptation, materials use and teacher development, and the use of teacher guides in teacher development.
