Download - Tacon 2015 presentation - online PD opportunities with TESOL Arabia

TESOL Arabia TACON 2015Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dubai 13 March 2015by Jim Buckingham, MA Adult Ed., MAODE, TEFL

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities

Jim Buckingham, MA Adult Ed., MAODE, TEFL

Instructor / Education Technologist Zayed University Abu Dhabi, UAE


Chair TESOL Arabia - Education Technology special interest group


Abstract Discover TESOL Arabia's online tutorials and digital badges projects currently being produced by TESOL Arabia volunteers.

As a professional practitioner, learn how you can realize PD goals online while also earning international standards based digital badges.

As an aspiring elearning developer, learn how you can participate in creating such projects too.

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities Agenda Problem Just how much "Arabia" is there in TESOL Arabia?

How can TESOL Arabia assert its leadership role in promoting quality, professional standards based PD for EFL instructors at low or no cost to EFL instructors in the MENA region?

SolutionsTraditional solutions Proposed new solutions

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities Agenda SolutionsTraditional solutions • Annual Conference • Chapter events • Magazine

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities Agenda SolutionsTraditional solutions • Annual Conference • Chapter events • Magazine

• high cost• not easily accessible• limited access• measure of impact?

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities Agenda SolutionsNew solutions • Online discussion threads• Online courses / tutorials • Digital Badges

• low / no cost• easily accessible• unlimited access• measure of impact?

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities New Solutions • examples abound• Classroom 2.0 http://www.classroom20.com/

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities New Solutions • examples abound• Coursera - https://www.coursera.org/course/shaping1landscape

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities New Solutions • examples abound• American TESOL Institute - http://www.americantesol.com/

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities New Solutions • examples abound• Electronic Village Online - http://evosessions.pbworks.com/w/page/10708567/FrontPage



… but the context is typically Western based

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities Agenda SolutionsImportance of Context



… identifying a need for more regionally based Online PD opportunities and some have emerged

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities New Solutions • Globally based• Learning2Gether - http://learning2gether.net/2015/03/08/learning2gether-with-elizabeth-

anne-about-blended-learning-in-a-conservative-higher-ed-environment/

Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities New Solutions • Regionally based?


TESOL Arabia’s efforts

Ning social networking site http://taedtech.ning.com

Facebook Group Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/TAEdTech/

Flipboard (Curation App) https://flipboard.com/section/taedtech-bIFjqO

Twitter / delicious hashtag #taedtech

email address - [email protected]



Ning social networking site http://taedtech.ning.com



Facebook Group Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/TAEdTech/



Flipboard (Curation App) https://flipboard.com/section/taedtech-bIFjqO



Twitter / delicious hashtag #taedtech



TWO NEW INITIATIVES

online tutorials digital badges


TWO NEW INITIATIVESonline tutorials The perceived need

to reach members throughout MENA region

to promote the EFL professionto encourage EFL professional development

to realise a community of practice in the MENA region


TWO NEW INITIATIVESonline tutorials The vision

• when?• when?• how?

self directed PD for EFL instructors accessible 24/7 for the MENA context aligned with National / International standards


TWO NEW INITIATIVESonline tutorials The execution

• when?• when?• how?

set up website that supports e-learningdesign tutorial templates - easy to use

market online PD opportunitiescreate a digital badge ecosystem


TWO NEW INITIATIVESonline tutorials The execution set up website that supports e-learning

http://edtech.tesolarabia.co/



http://edtech.tesolarabia.co/

design tutorial templates - easy to use


TWO NEW INITIATIVESdigital badges The execution create a digital badge ecosystem What are digital badges?Why digital badges?


digital badges https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgLLq7ybDtc


TWO NEW INITIATIVESdigital badges The execution create a digital badge ecosystem What are digital badges?Why digital badges?

recognition / reward system

based on criteria

linked to evidence

recognising informal learning

linked to National / International standards (when possible)


TWO NEW INITIATIVESdigital badges The execution create a digital badge ecosystem


TWO NEW INITIATIVESdigital badges The execution create a digital badge ecosystem

https://credly.com/u/taedtech



set up website that supports e-learningdesign tutorial templates - easy to use create a digital badge ecosystem

& digital badges

market online PD opportunities



& digital badges market online PD opportunities

an invitation today to participate in these online communities

realise these online communities