Professional Development –
Because things HAVE transformed, shifted and improved since we graduated and received our teaching certificate…
Readings about the latest Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
It has been far too many times that I heard from fellow educators (not only in the ESOL department and not only in higher ed) that they have not attended professional development workshops, webinars, seminars, workshops…because the institute that they work for does not provide enough time or money for it. I am not sure where this confusion comes from, namely that it is the sole responsibility of the school/college to further train their teachers/instructors/professors. I do not intend to upset any of my colleagues or fellow educators, but I truly believe that in the 21st Century no one can afford not to advance themselves no matter the profession they are committed to. It is not purely about staying employed but it is also about respecting the learners we teach every day and of course our professionalism, our integrity. It does not have to be a weekend long conference or a day long webinar! I regularly receive feeds on Facebook from various educational websites like Mindshift and Edutopia or even Grammarly and read about the latest tips and tricks in teaching. I gain access to free webinars and free online professional development courses provided by our college or MOOC, and I watch YouTube videos from fellow professionals to find out what’s new. They really do help me revise my teaching methods and approach each semester.
Here is a collection of articles and websites that can serve as a DIY professional development course 
Online teaching and Video lectures:
"But at a minimum it seems that professors should stop spending so much
time filming videos when they create online courses, and stop trying to
replicate the lecture hall online...But they were able to determine across four different courses in
computer science, biology, statistics and psychology that active
exercises were six times more effective than reading....And new data analysis techniques are allowing researchers to conclude
that active learning not only is associated with higher learning
outcomes, but actually causes students to learn more....
Great
pics with precious quotes
“For
English-Learners, an
Effective Teacher in Any Language Is What Matters” Want to find a
better teacher for English-language learners? Start by looking for teachers who
add the most value for any students, rather than limiting the search to those
who may have had specialized training to work with ELLs.”
“Over
the summer, teachers
reflect on the year and often redesign and perfect their teaching strategies
and plans. In essence, they get back to the basics of what they believe
is the best way to inspire learning in their students -- in other words, they
revisit and refine their philosophy of education.”
“Bloom’s Taxonomy gets an active
makeover in this infographic, which provides a way to think about how
the actions involved in a class assignment might be categorized in the schema.”
“What
complicates these views further is the fact that most of us were educated by
teachers who employed 20th century pedagogy and methodology, which means that
the 20th century is the basis of our educational experience. Since we are now
almost halfway through the second decade of the 21st century, we need to get everyone up to speed. This
requires educating parents about the education of their children.”
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/04/16/what-will-education-look-like-in-a-more-open-future/ It’s about open learning systems
which are transparent, inclusive, welcoming and promote innovation.
“As
new ways and new
technology keep emerging, learning and adapting is essential. The good
news is: it's fun, and even 20 min a day will take you a long way!”
“I
really appreciate teachers who are truly passionate about teaching. The teacher
who wants to be an inspiration to others. The teacher who is happy with his/her
job at all times. The teacher that every other child in the school would love
to have. The teacher that kids remember for the rest of their lives. Are you
that teacher? Read on and learn 11 effective habits of an effective teacher.”
“Does
your classroom mirror the rectilinear seating arrangement popular in Sumerian
classrooms, circa 2000 BCE? Or is your classroom seating flexible and tricked
out with the IDEO designed Node Chair by Steelcase? What classroom design changes can you do on
a budget that supports learning? Those questions and more are answered below.”
What
Does Transformational
Teaching Look Like?
- Have
students ask questions and solve real-world problems.
- Questions
should require students to:
- Analyze
- Synthesize
- Create
- Empathize
- Interpret
- Reference
background knowledge
- Defend
alternative perspectives
- Determine
what they know and don't know
- Organize
students into learning groups.
- Make
learning segments manageable through modeling and mastery.
- Guide,
facilitate, challenge, and support.
“Through
his research, one of his goals is to aid teachers in seeing and better
understanding learning through the eyes of their students. Hattie has spent
more than 15 years researching the influences on achievement of K-12 children.
His findings linked student outcomes to several highly effective classroom practices.”
“Your
habits make you exceptional. Your habits can also make you struggle. The iron
law of the universe that you reap what you sow is never truer than when it
relates to habits. In my career, I've learned that the better my habits, the
better teacher I'm free to become. Dependable habits can free your mind from
clutter and let you perform at higher levels. As you plan this school year,
ponder and plan key habits to help you improve. One word of caution: habits can
be hard to change. Pick a
few or practice habit stacking as you assemble routines of success.
Change your habits, change your classroom, change your life.”
“Developing a Growth Mindset
amongst students is not an immediate process; rather, it will take a concerted
effort on behalf of teachers and the rest of the schooling community. Equally,
encouraging teachers to see themselves in the same way will equally take a
lengthy period of time; however, there are significant benefits to be had from
leveraging these ideas.”
How
to counter the gradual
narrowing of our horizons.
“Researchers
have known for some time that the brain is like a muscle; that the more you use
it, the more it grows. They’ve found that neural connections form and deepen most when we make
mistakes doing difficult tasks rather than repeatedly having success with easy
ones.”
“For
principals and other school administrators, this list of videos, blogs, and articles includes advice and
tips on effective leadership strategies, partnering with teachers, and
cultivating and retaining strong leaders.”
“Strong
teams within a school are essential to retaining and sustaining teachers. If a
team is effective, then people learn from each other. What Makes a Good Team? Here are some key
characteristics that I believe make a good team:”
“Students create individual
learning plans and monitor their own growth and development throughout
the year. This
learning-plan template demonstrates how.”
“The
first aspect of this behavior engagement model is to teach our students about
their own neuro-anatomy. When we understand how the brain learns and feels --
with every word, thought, and experience -- we empower our students with the lifetime tools that will
enhance their experience in and out of school.”
“The
greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge” – Widely
attributed to Stephen Hawking, likely from historian Daniel J. Boorstin”
“Teams
need to develop emotional intelligence so that members can engage in
conversations that push each other's thinking (not each other's buttons), and
that include challenging questions, taking personal risks, and acknowledging
vulnerability. Building
emotionally intelligent teams might just be the most important work that
we do as facilitators, department heads, instructional coaches, and leaders.”
“Classroom management
isn't like following a recipe, where you follow exact steps and end up with a
beautiful finished product. It takes time, practice and patience. But these are
some tricks I've
learned that help move that process along”
“For
Hong and Perez, learning
English gives them a chance at a better job and a better future for
their families. But there are thousands more who are waiting and hoping for
their own shot at the American dream.”
“Since
communication often occurs across cultures, people must know more than just the vocabulary
and grammar of a foreign language. They must also have cultural awareness—a recognition of the "dos
and don'ts" that each culture maintains—to communicate smoothly, effortlessly
and with confidence. Virtual role-play—where learners engage in simulated
encounters with artificially intelligent agents that behave and respond in a
culturally accurate manner—has been shown to be effective at teaching cross-cultural
communication.” http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=134698
“While
online courses can make it easier for more reserved students to ask for help, Mr. Roll
said they do increase the risk
that students will focus on expedient help rather than help that improves
learning, such as problem-solving strategies. It's harder to simply ask for
"the answer" in a live class discussion, he said.”
http://thejournal.com/Articles/2015/01/19/5-Productivity-Skills-Every-Educator-Must-Have.aspx?Page=1
“Looking
at innovative ways to
support English Language Learners. For instance, by working with
guidance counselors to deepen their understanding of the tools ELLs need to
become college and career ready. We’re also developing a STEM, science,
technology, engineering, and math initiative specifically for ELL students to
leverage their bilingual skills and expand their opportunities.”
“If
you want to make a mark in the world of computer games you had better have a
good English vocabulary. It has now also been scientifically proven that
someone who is good at computer games has a larger English vocabulary. This is
revealed by a study at the University of Gothenburg and Karlstad University.”
“Words
in the English language are structured to help children learn, according to
research. Words like "woof" accurately represent the sound of a dog
while sounds with similar meanings may have a similar structure, such as the
"sl" sound at the beginning of a word often has negative properties
as in "slime, slur, slum, slug."
http://blog.tesol.org/teaching-intros-and-conclusions-to-ells-without-a-safety-net/
http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/the-power-of-social-media-in-language-acquisition/education
“A
roundtable conference on Standard
of English in Omani Schools organised recently by Oman Daily Observer
explored the issue as to why are high school graduates of public education are
weak in English and what can be done to remove this weakness? The six-member
expert panel suggested that Oman needs to find new teaching and learning
practices and delivery mechanisms for English language. The panellists
expressed disquiet on the continued observance of customary norms and practices that hinder progressive
learning.”
”
Saudi school pupils “study” or “learn” English purely for the purpose
of passing examinations. At no time is it impressed upon them that
English is a valid means of communication in the world today.”
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