A look at how current approaches to promoting PD for EFL instructors in the UAE may not be that effective. The author suggests the use of social networking tools to support sharing, testing, and collaborating amongst instructors as an alternative. This may also help realize a "community of best practice" for UAE based EFL instructors. On a micro level this can be accomplished through reflective practice and Journaling via blogs. On a macro level this might be accomplished through social networking tools such as Ning, Twitter and Facebook. Efforts are under way to join TESOL Arabia SIGs via such tools.

1. PD Workshops Their purpose? Do they really work? How could they be improved? James (Jim) Buckingham , MA ODE (Open U, UK) [email_address] Senior Education Technology Specialist Zayed University presented 8 May, 2010 Fatima College of Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research Abu Dhabi, UAE

2. PD Workshops Their purpose? Do they really work? How could they be improved? Realize “best practices” through social networking James (Jim) Buckingham , MA ODE (Open U, UK) [email_address] Senior Education Technology Specialist Zayed University presented 8 May, 2010 Fatima College of Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research Abu Dhabi, UAE

4. © SAP 2009 / Page Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

5. Organizer Presenter Attendee Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

6. Organizer Pre event Presenter Attendee Event Post Event Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

16. Organizer Presenter Attendee Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? How much learning is actually going on here?

26. Organizer Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? Presenter Attendee Time Alignment Format Passivity Observation Many hours Many resources

27. Organizer Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? Presenter Attendee Time Alignment Format Passivity Observation Many hours Many resources .. but with what affect? .. how is the effect measured? .. who is really benefitting?

28. Organizer Presenter Attendee Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? How to promote broader & more meaningful activity?

29. Organizer Presenter Attendee Time Alignment Format Passivity Alternative move away from presentation + handout = professional development Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

30. Organizer Presenter Attendee Time Alignment Format Passivity Alternative move towards ++ professional development applying objectives applying pedagogy Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

31. Organizer Presenter Attendee Time Alignment Format Passivity Alternative identify what to learn apply methods to learning Betty Collis Spaces for Interaction: Conversation http://www.editlib.org/p/30477 promote more activity for attendee Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

33. Organizer Pre event Presenter Attendee Event Post Event Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

48. Organizer Presenter Attendee Time Alignment Format Passivity ? discourages passive engagement encourages active engagement by promoting ownership of the event Opportunities Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

50. Organizer Presenter Attendee Essentially promotes … Opportunities Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? … . a Learning Community

51. Organizer Presenter Attendee How much learning would go on here? Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

52. Organizer Presenter Attendee Would we address concerns? Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

53. How are you motivated to attend "professional development" workshops such as those typically presented by TESOL Arabia SIGs? By learning new advancements in the field, or things that I feel I need to work on. Also, to help promote my advancement in EFL/ESL. The topic of the presentation/workshop is the most important to me. I usually attend the workshops that interest me by displaying new developments in the fields I am teaching or offer practical applications to classes that I am teaching. I like PDs since they improve and empower me as a teacher. Even if they don't they usually motivate me to improve or practise something new. I have always found them helpful if they are planned well and aimed for realistic goals ... Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? promote my advancement in EFL discover new methods in EFL empower me as a teacher encourage me to improve my practice

54. Recall a "professional development" workshops that was the most successful / most useful to you. What qualities were present there that contributed to it being successful / useful to you? Mostly, it would have to be the relevance to what I want to do in my classroom and in my professional career.- clear objectives that are met by the end of the session - New topics and practical workshops that provide ideas that can be taken to my classroom are priorities. - presenter's reflection on personal experiences as opposed to studies and theories The most useful workshops have been the ones that I was able to walk away with something in my hands that could be immediately adapted to the class that I was currently teaching. Timing and relevance are particularly important, but memorable Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? get something that is immediately adaptable to my class relevant to what I do in the classroom provide practical ideas walk away with something in my hand

55. Painful as it may be, recall a "professional development" workshops that was less successful / useful than you had hoped. What qualities were present there that resulted in it being less successful? The instructor speaking so slow that it was better suited for a beginning EFL learner. Also, workshops that are so basic as to have been presented in University studies.- the presenter was reading from a paper - the content of the session was not related to the title - the presenter was not familiar with his/her PowerPoint - Overuse/misuse of PowerPoint presentations Presentation style that is more presentation and less inclusion or doesn't include practical application or hands on demonstrations do not stick with me. There have been several workshops that I have attended that were not... Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? overuse of PowerPoint content was not related to the title inappropriate level (too basic) more presentation, less participation

56. Essentially promotes … Opportunities Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? … . a Learning Community

57. promote membership Creating a Learning Community Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? promote discussion promote decision making promote sharing of resources

62. Essentially promoting … Opportunities Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? … . a Learning Community … . with some help from technology

67. Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? Creating an online learning community promote membership promote discussion promote decision making promote sharing of resources

68. Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? Creating an online learning community Presenter Attendee

69. Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? Creating an online learning community Interested? Email me at [email_address] Subject heading? – Online Learning Community

70. © SAP 2009 / Page Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move?

73. Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? References Arina, T. (2009). Using Social Technologies to Run Better Events . Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/30432 Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education. (2009, February 18). Spaces of Interaction: Rethinking Traditional Conferences. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education . Retrieved June 22, 2009, from http://aace.org/university/archives/spaces/ Center for Learning & Performance Technologies. (n.d.). Top 100 Tools for Learning 2009. Center for Learning & Performance Technologies . Retrieved February 7, 2010, from http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/recommended/ Collis, B. (2009, February 20). Conferences and Learning . Presented at the Spaces for Interaction Conversation:, Online. Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/30447 Karrer, T., Lentz, M., Couros, A., & Cormier, D. (2009). Panel, Engagement: Improving Conferences through Increased Participation . GLOBALU. Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/30448 Stevens, V. (2009). After a Decade of Inroads, SUCCESS in Modeling Blended Learning in Theory AND Practice at F2F and Online Conferences . GLOBALU. Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/30446 Weller, M. (2009, October 28). Cloudworks - Changing nature of conferences. Cloudworks . Retrieved December 8, 2009, from http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/2577 Wikipedia. (n.d.). Connectivism (learning theory). Retrieved February 7, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connectivism_(learning_theory) Wikipedia. (n.d.). Constructivism (learning theory). Retrieved February 7, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism_(learning_theory)

74. Traditional Learning? Alternative Next Move? Thank you to for your participation