Students from The University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) made a remarkable impression at the 2024 Technology-Enhanced Language Instruction and Culture (TELIC) Conference, an international event co-founded by UTPB faculty member Dr. Amin Davoodi. The conference provided a platform for students to share their research alongside global scholars and educators, highlighting innovative approaches to language instruction and cultural preservation.
Student Research in the Spotlight
Among the standout presenters was senior Dallas McWilliams, a double major in Psychology and History. McWilliams introduced his research project, Empowering Voices: Leveraging Technology to Preserve and Revitalize Native American Heritage Language and Culture in the U.S., which focuses on using modern technology to address challenges faced by Indigenous nations in preserving their languages and cultures.
McWilliams, a member of the Houma Nation in Louisiana, drew from his personal heritage to propose solutions for resource gaps impacting Indigenous communities.
“The Houma Nation, like many other Indigenous nations in North America, faces erasure of their culture and language,” McWilliams said. “Preserving them using modern technology can help alleviate manpower costs that less advantaged groups do not have access to.”
He credited Dr. Davoodi, Assistant Professor of Bilingual/ESL Education and TELIC co-founder, for his guidance.
“My mentor, Dr. Amin Davoodi, was one of the hosts and creators of TELIC,” McWilliams said. “With significant help from him, I was able to create a short presentation detailing the research inspiration, plan, and goals.”
An International Platform for Learning
The TELIC Conference, which promotes open access to knowledge and global collaboration, offered McWilliams a valuable learning experience.
“Presenting at the TELIC Conference helped me to gain experience with presenting to a large group, and hearing the many other presenters from various countries provided good insight into research and studies being done around the world,” McWilliams shared.
Dr. Davoodi praised McWilliams’ dedication and the significance of his research.
“Dallas has shown inspiring dedication to this research project, driven by his passion for Native American heritage languages and cultures,” Dr. Davoodi said. “His willingness to present on such a prominent international platform reflects his eagerness to learn and grow as a researcher.”
Encouraging Future Researchers
McWilliams hopes his participation will inspire other UTPB students to engage in undergraduate research opportunities.
“I hope to encourage others to do undergraduate research, as it is a very important opportunity here at UTPB,” McWilliams said. “Having this opportunity, no less from our own Dr. Davoodi, was exceptional and has given me an even better understanding of the opportunities this University holds.”
With events like TELIC and dedicated faculty, UTPB continues to foster academic innovation and global engagement, empowering students to make meaningful contributions to both research and cultural preservation.
Image Credit: https://www.utpb.edu/success/2024/12/telic-conference-2024
