Schedule: 2009-09-12 (15:00 - 15:45)
Parallel Session 4 (Room A-24)

Title: Using Web-based portfolios in CALL teacher training
Authors: Jeong-Bae Son
Abstract: Professional development plays a significant role in ensuring that teachers are able to enhance their teaching skills and improve students' learning outcomes. While postgraduate programs offered by universities have been a form of formal professional development, online professional networks or communities are being recognized as a form of informal professional development. In line with professional development in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) environments, language teachers need to understand instructional aspects of the Internet and know how to use the Internet effectively for teaching purposes. This paper addresses the issue of the use of Web-based portfolios in language teacher education and responds to the question of how Web-based portfolios can be integrated into a formal professional development course for language teachers. A Web-based portfolio can be seen as a personal record demonstrating actual evidence of exploration, reflection and achievements online. It can be used as a tool for learning and assessment in language teacher training, taking advantage of electronic formats with hyperlinks to multimedia materials. The paper presents an online postgraduate course, which combines guided modules and online discussions with investigatory components leading to the creation and submission of a structured Web-based portfolio. It also shows some examples of Web-based portfolios created by in-service teachers in the course and looks into the teachers' reflections on their own learning experience.
Keywords: Professional development, language teacher training, computer-assisted language learning, Internet-based language instruction, Web-based portfolios

Main topic: Pedagogical change in technology integration

Biodata: Dr Jeong-Bae Son teaches Applied Linguistics & TESOL courses and supervises higher degree research students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He is currently the President of APACALL, Co-Chair of GLoCALL 2009, Editor of the APACALL Book Series and Co-Editor of IJPL.
Type of presentation Paper presentation

Paper category Research & Development

Target educational sector Higher education

Language of delivery English

EU-funded project No

Schedule:	2009-09-12 (15:00 - 15:45) Parallel Session 4 (Room A-24)
Title:	Using Web-based portfolios in CALL teacher training
Authors:	Jeong-Bae Son
Abstract:	Professional development plays a significant role in ensuring that teachers are able to enhance their teaching skills and improve students' learning outcomes. While postgraduate programs offered by universities have been a form of formal professional development, online professional networks or communities are being recognized as a form of informal professional development. In line with professional development in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) environments, language teachers need to understand instructional aspects of the Internet and know how to use the Internet effectively for teaching purposes. This paper addresses the issue of the use of Web-based portfolios in language teacher education and responds to the question of how Web-based portfolios can be integrated into a formal professional development course for language teachers. A Web-based portfolio can be seen as a personal record demonstrating actual evidence of exploration, reflection and achievements online. It can be used as a tool for learning and assessment in language teacher training, taking advantage of electronic formats with hyperlinks to multimedia materials. The paper presents an online postgraduate course, which combines guided modules and online discussions with investigatory components leading to the creation and submission of a structured Web-based portfolio. It also shows some examples of Web-based portfolios created by in-service teachers in the course and looks into the teachers' reflections on their own learning experience.
Keywords:	Professional development, language teacher training, computer-assisted language learning, Internet-based language instruction, Web-based portfolios
Main topic:	Pedagogical change in technology integration
Biodata:	Dr Jeong-Bae Son teaches Applied Linguistics & TESOL courses and supervises higher degree research students in the Faculty of Education at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. He is currently the President of APACALL, Co-Chair of GLoCALL 2009, Editor of the APACALL Book Series and Co-Editor of IJPL.
Type of presentation	Paper presentation
Paper category	Research & Development
Target educational sector	Higher education
Language of delivery	English
EU-funded project	No