Tesol08 Efl Acad Session080404

Slide 1: Moving from Academic to Job-Related Writing EFL-IS Academic Session Friday, April 4, 2008 – 8:30 – 11:15 am TESOL 2008, NY, NY, USA 1 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 2: Agenda 2 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 3: Learning vs Memory (1) 3 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 4: Learning vs Memory (2) 4 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 5: Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but is life itself. John Dewey, (1859-1952) 5 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 6: Learning Approaches 6 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 7: Informal Learning & Formal Learning “Most of what we learn, we learn from other people - At work we learn more in the break room than in the classroom. We discover how to do our jobs through informal learning -- observing others, asking the person in the next cubicle, calling the help desk, trial- and-error, and simply working with people in the know. Formal learning - classes and workshops and online events - is the source of only 10% to 20% of what we learn at work.” Jay Cross (2003) 7 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 8: 8 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 9: The Big Picture Of Informal Learning http://www.jaycross.com/informal_book/poster.htm @ 2006 Jay Cross, Internet Time Groups LLC, Berkeley, California 9 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 10: Push Learning vs Pull Learning Formal learning = Push learning Informal Learning = Pull learning 10 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 11: Case Study: Gulf Bank of Kuwait Putting Theories into Action http://alothman-b.tripod.com/content-gb.htm A pilot ESP program for a group in the financial industry 11 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 12: Case Study: A Pilot Blended ESP, (BE) Program for Branch Managers Phases:  Needs Assessment  Objectives  Program Design  Syllabus (weekly activities)  Logistics  Implementation  Program evaluation & Recommendations 12 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 13: Needs Assessment  Organizational Needs Assessment, (ONA) Needed employees to write summary reports on job- related (assigned) seminars and presentations (listening and writing skills, and to have fun).  Job-Task Needs Assessment, (TNA) Needed employees to write: emails, memos, complaints and recommendation letters, (technical professional writing).  Instructional Needs Assessment (INA) Oral skills: good to very good; Listening Skills: good to very good; Writing skills: Poor grammar (verb forms, sentences, spelling, and using caps). 13 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 14: Distinguishing between “Wants" and “Needs" Blending Formal and Informal learning approaches using new technologies to teach communications skills:  Formal and informal Email  Memo  Summary report  Group-writing and presentation 14 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 15: Building a Collaborative Professional Community to Enhance Formal & Informal Learning http://alothman-b.tripod.com/content-gb-e-community.htm 15 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 16: New Technologies for Learning by Doing used as a CMS, for announcements, and to practice email writing to practice writing through reflection and sharing information to practice collaborative group-writing for the final project for voice messages and audio activities ProActive English for performance support activities – to practice listening, speaking with focus on pronunciation and presentation skills 16 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 17: Formal vs Informal Email 17 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 18: Formal Email 18 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 19: Informal Email 19 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 20: Virtual Environments to Support Just in Time Learning for voice & text instant messaging & international conversations For formal and informal activities: lessons, meetings, discussions, presentations Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Delicious - social bookmarking, using the tags Blip.tv Video to improve communications performance 20 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 21: Examples of Performance Support Blended Activities formal and informal learning situations: three participants were reflecting and reporting on a seminar using Elluminate 21 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 22: Different Learning Environments for Performance Support Learning from one another convenient for the busy manager Practicing various communication skills at different environments to support informal learning approach and have fun! 22 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 23: Inviting Guest Speakers / Authentic Audience to communicate with the learners via live text and voice sessions Dennis Oliver Dave Winet John Bradly 23 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 24: Promoting Informal learning through International Conversation Activities Abeer Bouftain Barbara Sawhill Live conversation with authentic audience via Skype - Venue: Arab Planning Institute (API) 24 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 25: Simulation Activities at the Virtual Classroom Bill Gates David Winet Performance support fun activities - (David Winet as Bill Gates ) 25 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 26: Summary of Program Evaluation’s Results which type of classes do you prefer 33% Face-to-Face Online 67% 26 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 27: Some Results of the Program Evaluation How do you rate this course in terms of learning new skills? 17% 17% Little Fair Good 17% 17% Very Good Excellent 32% 27 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 28: Challenges  HR team & training management  IT challenges ( equipment, support)  Training / classroom equipment  Miscommunication  Barriers and Motivation - (Principles of Adults Learning, by Stephen Lieb, Fall 1991 - http://tinyurl.com/8etyf ) 28 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 29: Recommendations / future plans  Improve Organizational Needs Assessment  Suggest the use of virtual social network tools for HR and training managers  Provide orientation for each technology shortly before it’s used 29 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 30: Final Word Things manage to work themselves out and nature has always confirmed that…. Change is happening; so, let’s let it be Time to Learn how to learn  30 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008

Slide 31:  The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change. (Carl Rogers)  I think everyone should go to college and get a degree and then spend six months as a bartender and six months as a cabdriver. Then they would really be educated. ( Al MacGuire)  Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion has no hold on the mind. ( Plato) 31 AlOthman, B. TESOL 2008 4/4/2008