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Discussion Group: Professional Development Opportunities in CALL
TESOL 2005
Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College (cbauer-ramazani@smcvt.edu)
Mary-Ellen Butler-Pascoe,
Alliant International
University, Graduate School of Education
(mbutler@alliant.edu)
Summary
Twenty TESOLers from the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, and
Japan attended this early-morning discussion session on the first day of
the convention in sunny San Antonio and discussed needs that they or the
teachers in their organizations have for professional development in
CALL. They identified the following needs:
- international and national standards related to
technology (e.g. ISTE, TESOL/NCATE)
- certificates indicating that standards in item 1.
were met.
- access to step-by-step tutorials or a database of
handouts on basic uses of technology tools (Word, PowerPoint, FrontPage,
Flash, Web templates, Web exercise/quiz/rubric/puzzle creators, etc.)
- a shared space where such tutorials and handouts
can be accessed and submitted by TESOL members worldwide.
- any tips on how to motivate teachers to sustain
their professional development endeavors in using technology.
- any tips (technical, pedagogical, classroom
management) on how to use technology in a one-computer classroom in
countries/environments with limited resources.
The discussion group leaders resolved to establish a
Yahoo!Group on a short-term basis for interaction among the participants
and relaying the needs expressed by the group to the TESOL Board for
long-term solutions.
The Yahoo!Group was created on 4/8/05. Membership in
the group can be requested by anyone interested in this topic at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/profdevCALL/join.
The handout with links to many professional
development opportunities in CALL can be accessed at
http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/TESOL/2005/prof_dev_call.htm
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