Professional Networking:- Towards the Development of Global On-line Support for Teacher Educators Hugh Smith Head of Continuing Professional Development University of The West of Scotland

Professional Networking:- Personal Dialogue Personal Dialogue Sharing of minds and resources Sharing of minds and resources Supports the development of pedagogy Supports the development of pedagogy Encourages the publication of conference proceedings and refereed papers Encourages the publication of conference proceedings and refereed papers Supports national and international collaboration Supports national and international collaboration

Professional Networking :- Traditional approach Traditional approach On-line approach On-line approach

Professional Networking :- Traditional approach Traditional approach Dialogue with colleagues / meetings / conferences / workshops/ telephone conversations / over coffee

Professional Networking :- On-line approach On-line approach / video conference / blogs / wikis / personal website / website forums Some on-line networking may have an open or closed membership

Professional Networking :- On-line approach may provide : On-line approach may provide : Repository feature Collaborative feature Interactive feature

Professional Networking :- On-line approach On-line approach Within nations, teacher educators have access to a wide range of on-line networks and sources.

Professional Networking :- On-line approach (examples) On-line approach (examples) Teacher Education in Sub Saharan Africa Teacher Education in Sub Saharan Africa On-line support for teachers and teacher educators from across Africa. Teacher Education Advancement Network Teacher Education Advancement Network On-line support for teacher educators from across the four countries of the UK.

Professional Networking :- Open on-line networking provides an interesting bi-product: Open on-line networking provides an interesting bi-product: Access to resources and information for others who are not teacher educators, teachers or teacher trainees.

Hole in the Wall Project

MOTIVATION

Consider……… The gap-year volunteers and others who travel to the least-developed areas of the world; who volunteer as teacher helpers or engage as non-qualified teachers. All assist with the task of delivering basic education. The gap-year volunteers and others who travel to the least-developed areas of the world; who volunteer as teacher helpers or engage as non-qualified teachers. All assist with the task of delivering basic education. Where could they access help and resources? Teacher Educators could provide a simple answer, without recognising the simplicity of the solution.

In the Cloud :- Cloud computing is a term used to describe access to the internet and web-browser applications through network devices Cloud computing is a term used to describe access to the internet and web-browser applications through network devices Teachers, teacher helpers and volunteers in least-developed areas of the world can access resources though mobile phone technology and other network devices.

Global Professional Networking :- If all teacher educator networks were open - think of the possibilities for Global Networking for those working in education settings If all teacher educator networks were open - think of the possibilities for Global Networking for those working in education settings “ Meeting basic learning needs constitutes a common and universal human responsibility. It requires international solidarity and equitable and fair economic relations in order to redress existing economic disparities.” ( Article 10 - The Dakar Framework of Action p77 - UNESCO 2000 )

Global Professional Networking - A Possible Way Forward :- Provide a portal that would function as a one-stop-shop for Teacher Educators and others Provide a portal that would function as a one-stop-shop for Teacher Educators and others A Model not unlike the Teacher Training Resource Bank could be developed A Model not unlike the Teacher Training Resource Bank could be developed

Global Professional Networking - A Possible Way Forward :- A portal would link all Teacher Educator Networks providing wider access to resources and research A portal would link all Teacher Educator Networks providing wider access to resources and research A portal would provide access to others who might influence/contribute to education contexts in least-developed areas of the world A portal would provide access to others who might influence/contribute to education contexts in least-developed areas of the world

Global Professional Networking - A Possible Way Forward :- Minimum cost Minimum cost Provide global access to existing resources for teacher educators (creating new collaboration and other possibilities) Provide global access to existing resources for teacher educators (creating new collaboration and other possibilities) Provide global access to those working in least-developed areas of the world Provide global access to those working in least-developed areas of the world Contribute to UNESCO aims Contribute to UNESCO aims

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