Teacher Recruitment for Online Teaching

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Subject: [PD 3373] Re: Post
From: Leslie Petty leslie.lpetty at gmail.com
Date: Mon Jun 15 13:32:48 EDT 2009

1) We are expanding DL options because we belive this will allow us to meet the needs or more adult learners, and (hopefully) foster more autonomy for students. It seems to require a different mindset for online teachers - they are not 'in charge' as in a classroom setting, and need to have more of a facilitator mindset. How best to foster and develop these qualities is a major challenge.

Tom, I definitely agree about the change in mindset needed for teachers. The experience in the Project IDEAL states has suggested that some teachers are able to make this transition and thrive in a distance environment, while others just aren't comfortable in this role. That's why in my previous post, I commented that we argue against assigning teachers to teach at a distance and instead urge agencies to find teachers who are excited about this new professional challenge. The professional development opportunities we offer to teachers in member states helps teachers explore to most effectively teach at a distance.

Leslie


Subject: [PD 3372] Re: Post
From: Steve Kaufmann steve at thelinguist.com
Date: Mon Jun 15 12:54:59 EDT 2009

1) Since getting involved in distance e-learning, I have been amazed at the dogmatic opposition to e-learning from classroom language teachers. The belief that learning takes place primarily in the classroom needs to be challenged. Learning takes place in the brain, wherever that brain happens to be.
I suggest that teachers who are going to teach language online should at least try to learn a language online. They will realize that the most important factor is the amount of time the learner spends on the task of learning the language. The goal of the teacher is to cajole, stimulate, guide, encourage and support the learner and to induce him/her to spend more time with the language.

Steve