“Schools and classrooms, both real and virtual, must have teachers who are equipped with technology resources and skills, and who can effectively teach the necessary subject matter content while incorporating technology concepts and skills.

Although it is recognized that our global environment has radically changed, many schools remain largely unchanged from those of the 20th century. Moving our schools into the 21st century will require a new vision of the skills and knowledge needed by students and teachers, a new view of the teaching-learning process, and a new model for the preparation of teachers.”….

Digitally Literate Teachers Needed
by Paul E.Resta and Jill C. Miels

The good news is that it is very easy to develop a new view of the teaching process with the free opportunities that the Internet is offering to us. As well as some great blogs that share Web 2.0 resources and ideas, there are free online courses and webinars that help teachers become digitally literate or improve their skills.

Electronic Village Online (EVO) Sessions

Electronic Village Online is a professional development project and virtual extension of the TESOL Convention. EVO offers six-week sessions where participants can engage with ESOL experts in online discussios or virtual workshops.

Some titles from this year’s sessions are Digital Materials Preparation Techniques, Internet4YoungLearners and Online Games for ESL/EFL.

The sessions are free and you do not need to be a TESOL member to participate. Go to the Electronic Village Online Wiki for registration. (Registration: January 4-10; Sessions start on January 11)

SEETA (South Eastern Europe Teachers Associations) Courses

SEETA Community is a collaborative online community of eleven Teachers’ Associations in South Eastern Europe run by volunteers.

Free online courses on different topics are offered on this online platform. The current course, Easy Web 2.0 Tools that you can use in your classroom is given by Nik Peachey. (December 7- January 15)

Classroom 2.0 Live Events

Classroom 2.0 LIVE is an opportunity to meet other members of the community in real-time events. They hold weekly shows and also occasional special events. If you miss a session, you can find the links to the recorded session on their web site.

A show lasts an hour, and the sessions are held in Elluminate which is e Web conferencing software.

You can find tutorials about how to join the sessions and how to use Elluminate on Classroom 2.0 Live web site. Click here to see their events calendar.

Edublogs Free Live Events

Edublogs offers free live web events to support the educators. Session topics range from different aspects of blogging to using different web tools. You can find links to the recordings and chat logs for each archived Edublogs Live Web Event on this blog.

Virtual Round Table Conference

The Virtual Round Table Conference is the first virtual conference on language learning with technology. The first one was organized on November 12-13, 2009 by LANCELOT School. It was a great event and a really useful experience for the speakers and participants. The second conference is on  April 22-23, 2010. You can sign up the Virtual Round Table Conference Ning to see the recordings of the past sessions and follow the upcoming events.

Macmillan Webinars

Macmillan Webinars do not specifically focus on using web technologies but even attending online seminars given by some of the leading people in ELT is a useful experience in order to become a digitally literate teacher. Their 2010 event calendar is not online yet but you can see the recordings of the previous webinars on the Macmillan web site.

I would be happy to hear from you if you know any other free online professional development opportunities for the new year.

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The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live. ~Mortimer Adler

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