Key problem? How can TESOL Arabia assert its leadership role in promoting quality, professional standards based PD for EFL instructors at low or no cost to EFL instructors in the MENA region. The proposed solution? The creation of self directed online tutorials and digital badges that are produced by a team of TESOL Arabia volunteers and sponsored by TESOL Arabia. The presentation presents progress being made by both the TAEDTECH Badge committee and TAEDTECH Online Tutorials committee to make these projects a reality, the vision driving them and the opportunities both projects present to any and all members of TESOL Arabia where ever they may be in the MENA region. The presentation introduces the conception and rational for each project, beginning first with the online self directed tutorials, their current format, the opportunities to learn and share findings with one another online, and how participants can have their efforts formally recognized via the earning of digital badges. This leads into an introduction of TESOL Arabia's digital badges project, the rationale for it and its current development. Special emphasis is placed on current efforts to have badges grounded on international standards such as ISTE and TESOL so that the badges have currency and validity throughout the MENA region and potentially globally.

1. TESOL Arabia
TACON 2015
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dubai
13 March 2015
by
Jim Buckingham,
MA Adult Ed., MAODE, TEFL
Introducing TESOL Arabia's
Online PD Opportunities

2. Jim Buckingham, MA Adult Ed., MAODE, TEFL
Instructor / Education Technologist
Zayed University
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Introducing TESOL Arabia's
Online PD Opportunities
Chair
TESOL Arabia - Education
Technology
special interest group

3. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Abstract
Discover TESOL Arabia's online tutorials and digital
badges projects currently being produced by TESOL
Arabia volunteers.
As a professional practitioner, learn how you can
realize PD goals online while also earning international
standards based digital badges.
As an aspiring elearning developer, learn how you can
participate in creating such projects too.

4. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Agenda
Problem
Just how much "Arabia" is there in TESOL Arabia?
How can TESOL Arabia assert its leadership role in
promoting quality, professional standards based PD for
EFL instructors at low or no cost to EFL instructors in
the MENA region?
Solutions
Traditional solutions
Proposed new solutions

5. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Agenda
Solutions
Traditional solutions
• Annual Conference
• Chapter events
• Magazine

6. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Agenda
Solutions
Traditional solutions
• Annual Conference
• Chapter events
• Magazine
• high cost
• not easily accessible
• limited access
• measure of impact?

7. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Agenda
Solutions
New solutions
• Online discussion threads
• Online courses / tutorials
• Digital Badges
• low / no cost
• easily accessible
• unlimited access
• measure of impact?

8. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• examples abound
• Classroom 2.0 http://www.classroom20.com/

9. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• examples abound
• Coursera - https://www.coursera.org/course/shaping1landscape

10. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• examples abound
• American TESOL Institute - http://www.americantesol.com/

11. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• examples abound
• Electronic Village Online - http://evosessions.pbworks.com/w/page/10708567/FrontPage

12. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• examples abound
• Electronic Village Online - http://evosessions.pbworks.com/w/page/10708567/FrontPage

13. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Agenda
Solutions
New solutions
• Online discussion threads
• Online courses / tutorials
• Digital Badges
• low / no cost
• easily accessible
• unlimited access
• measure of impact?
… but the context is typically Western based

14. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Agenda
Solutions
Importance of Context

15. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
Agenda
Solutions
New solutions
• Online discussion threads
• Online courses / tutorials
• Digital Badges
• low / no cost
• easily accessible
• unlimited access
• measure of impact?
… identifying a need for more regionally
based Online PD opportunities and some
have emerged

16. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Globally based
• Learning2Gether - http://learning2gether.net/2015/03/08/learning2gether-with-elizabeth-
anne-about-blended-learning-in-a-conservative-higher-ed-environment/

17. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Globally based
• Learning2Gether - http://learning2gether.net/2015/03/08/learning2gether-with-elizabeth-
anne-about-blended-learning-in-a-conservative-higher-ed-environment/

18. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?

19. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?

20. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TESOL Arabia’s efforts
Ning social networking site
http://taedtech.ning.com
Facebook Group Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TAEdTech/
Flipboard (Curation App)
https://flipboard.com/section/taedtech-bIFjqO
Twitter / delicious hashtag
#taedtech

21. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TESOL Arabia’s efforts
Ning social networking site
http://taedtech.ning.com

22. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TESOL Arabia’s efforts
Facebook Group Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TAEdTech/

23. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TESOL Arabia’s efforts
Flipboard (Curation App)
https://flipboard.com/section/taedtech-bIFjqO

24. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TESOL Arabia’s efforts
Twitter / delicious hashtag
#taedtech

25. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TESOL Arabia’s efforts
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
digital badges

26. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
The perceived need
to reach members throughout MENA region
to promote the EFL profession
to encourage EFL professional development
to realise a community of practice in the MENA region

27. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
The vision
• when?
• when?
• how?
self directed PD for EFL instructors
accessible 24/7
for the MENA context
aligned with National / International standards

28. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
The execution
• when?
• when?
• how?
set up website that supports e-learning
design tutorial templates - easy to use
market online PD opportunities
create a digital badge ecosystem

29. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
The execution set up website that supports e-learning
http://edtech.tesolarabia.co/

30. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
The execution
http://edtech.tesolarabia.co/
design tutorial templates - easy to use

31. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
digital badges
The execution create a digital badge ecosystem
What are digital badges?
Why digital badges?

32. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
digital badges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgLLq7ybDtc

33. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
digital badges
The execution create a digital badge ecosystem
What are digital badges?
Why digital badges?
recognition / reward system
based on criteria
linked to evidence
recognising informal learning
linked to National /
International standards
(when possible)

34. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
digital badges
The execution create a digital badge ecosystem

35. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
digital badges
The execution create a digital badge ecosystem
https://credly.com/u/taedtech

36. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
The execution
set up website that supports e-learning
design tutorial templates - easy to use
create a digital badge ecosystem
& digital badges
market online PD opportunities

37. Introducing TESOL Arabia's Online PD Opportunities
New Solutions
• Regionally based?
TWO NEW INITIATIVES
online tutorials
The execution
& digital badges
market online PD opportunities
an invitation today to
participate in these online communities
realise these online communities