METUpresentationJune 2009

Slide1: 

The Story of a Teacher Development Project

A project that started with a few simple ideas in Famagusta, and continued to an award ceremony in London….: 

A project that started with a few simple ideas in Famagusta, and continued to an award ceremony in London….

This is a presentation about what we learned along the way: 

This is a presentation about what we learned along the way Research Student Learning Teacher Development Institutional Development

Lexitronics Principles: 

Lexitronics Principles The acquisition of an extensive and in-depth vocabulary is the foundation of successful language learning. Learning the most useful vocabulary is fundamental to success. Technology is to be embraced within a sound pedagogical framework. Self-directed and collaborative learning are key concepts.

Lexitronics Products: 

Lexitronics Products A brand new combined wordlist and workbook (BNL2709), challenging the GSL and AWL dichotomy. A corpus-informed advanced academic writing course for postgraduate students. An eReader series dedicated to productive vocabulary learning. Publications in TESOL Quarterly, ELTJ, English for Specific Purposes, and IATEFL SIGS And more…

The lessons we learned about successful Teacher Development Projects:: 

The lessons we learned about successful Teacher Development Projects: What do you think they might have been? Key components of successful Teacher Development might include:

Synthesising: 

Synthesising A lot of learning is not about new learning but how we relate, connect, and apply aspects of our own and others’ learning…. Lexitronics developed through the interaction of ideas…

Finding the Connections: 

Finding the Connections

Collaborating: 

Collaborating Powerful syntheses and the interaction of ideas are best achieved through collaboration. The sum is always greater than the parts. And successful Teacher Development must promote a culture of sharing…

All Feeding into the Common Pot: 

All Feeding into the Common Pot

Critical Questioning: 

Critical Questioning Sometimes our critics are our best friends, and their criticism a vital motivation… … Similarly, we should question convention, whilst opening up our own work for scrutiny and challenge.

Challenging the Status Quo?: 

Challenging the Status Quo?

Being Critical but Constructive: 

Being Critical but Constructive

Creating and Maintaining an Atmosphere of Trust and Respect: 

Creating and Maintaining an Atmosphere of Trust and Respect In an environment of trust and respect, criticism can be frank, honest, constructive, creative and motivating… i.e. POSITIVE In environments where insecurity is high, interaction can be negative, insincerely positive, or simply unforthcoming…i.e. NEGATIVE

Shedding Unhealthy Motivations: 

Shedding Unhealthy Motivations

Autonomy and Independence: 

Autonomy and Independence Trust and respect suggests autonomy and independence in action. So does ‘getting things done’. Collaboration doesn’t mean breeding dependencies. Learners cannot learn the language in the time given – it is essential that they become independent learners… Teachers cannot acquire all the skills they need in training courses – it is essential that they become independent – and share…

Home Truths: 

Home Truths

Room for Change: 

Room for Change Practitioners need to be able to fully respond to learners to help them develop independent learning skills Learner Autonomy requires Teacher Autonomy Our products have largely been piloted in institutions that gave us room for manoeuvre and development.

Desire for Change: 

Desire for Change Sustaining the belief that learning programmes can always be improved. Putting learners and learning first. Putting in the hard work. Risk taking: being prepared to take chances Our work has been driven by the belief that our students’ English could and should be a lot better than it is.

Stepping Into the Unknown: 

Stepping Into the Unknown

Teacher Development is about: 

Teacher Development is about Process, not product Day-to-day practice, not display lessons Collaboration and sharing, not competition Improvement, not control Continuing throughout our career Breaking out of our own institutions… It’s a Lifestyle….

Sharing the Learning and Getting Feedback: 

Sharing the Learning and Getting Feedback Nilgun’s PhD Thesis: 428 views and 104 downloads in its first two months on ‘Scribd’. 334 views of the eReader online Powerpoint in its first 15 days on ‘MyPlick’. There is a whole world out there waiting…

And the Message?: 

And the Message? Lexitronics started life as a discussion topic, evolved into a Teacher Development group, and became a key part of our professional lives. In a way, we simply took control of our own professional development… We certainly don’t regret doing so…

And you?: 

And you? With a partner, write down a theme for one teacher development project that you would both like to be involved in…

So who is interested in what?: 

So who is interested in what? Now get up, stretch, and circulate! Who has written what? Has anybody touched on similar themes to you? Perhaps you now have the basis for a team? You could even make a date for your first TD meeting today… Your own TD Adventure could begin here…

Successful Teacher Development: 

Successful Teacher Development

Lexitronics is:: 

Lexitronics is: Nilgun Hancioglu Ali Billuroglu John Eldridge Steven Neufeld Thank you METU for inviting us…