Digital Pedagogical Paradigm in Language Lab-Based English Teaching for Higher Technical Education

Abstract

National Board of Accreditation (NBA) of India in compliance with the policy decisions of Washington Accord has created a landmark event in the current decade as envisaged in the emphasis on ‘digital pedagogy’ in higher technical education in India today. NBA in compliance with the basic tenets of the Washington Accord has made accreditation of ‘professional courses’ compulsory across the length and breadth of India. Therefore, ‘Digital Pedagogy’ is sine qua non of the present situation in higher technical education. The proposed book chapter is a serious attempt to present a model for teaching of English for Technical Communication using Digital Pedagogy in higher technical education as prescribed by NBA (India). In spite of the prescribed course planner of NBA (India), English faculty members of various technical universities of India still continue with the traditional pedagogy of ‘chalk and talk’ due to lack of insightful training in digital pedagogy. The proposed digital pedagogical model specifies how to handle Digital Language Laboratory to develop English Communicative Competence of UG students in higher technical education in India and abroad. Digital Language Laboratory is often misunderstood and misused as an alternative smart classroom. The proposed book chapter would focus on how NBA—prescribed norms can be maintained adeptly using Digital Language Laboratory as a teaching aid or grand digital Realia. The proposed book chapter would also showcase digitized strategies for English language teachers so that they can handle digital pedagogical paradigm by following the legacy of ‘continuity in change’ through proper application of digital pedagogy.