Vance Stevens presents Transforming learning with creative technogogy (not a typo): Achieving the aha! moment, live (and online) from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE,

TESOL Arabia is very active in the UAE, with chapters in various cities frequently putting on professional development events such as the one in the flyer at left. However, the UAE is a large country, with several hours driving time required between its major cities.  As a result it is often not possible for many teachers in the UAE to attend these fine events in regions not their own.

One purpose of this presentation is to suggest alternative means for teachers in the UAE to connect with one another via their chapter events.  This presentation will attempt to demonstrate how teachers in various parts of the UAE can present to one another online and not only that, but include participants from other parts of the world as well.  It is hoped to suggest by extrapolation that teachers familiar with tools making this possible could also use them to engage students in meaningful and authentic communication with peers elsewhere in the UAE and worldwide.

The presentation will echo the blog post here http://advanceducation.blogspot.com/2011/03/transforming-learning-with-creative.html, applying the concepts through engagement with an active PLN or personal learning network.
    * Audience participation includes:
          o Broadcast of the presentation via Elluminate to a live audience who could interact with the one in RAK
                + Nik Peachey, Graham Stanley, and Anthony Gaughan have offered to join us from the IATEFL conference in Brighton (see http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2011/forum/welcomeintroductions); and we can also monitor their Twitter feeds and converse with them through #hashtags
                + Live interaction with other TA chapters (Jim Buckingham has offered to join from a distance, checking other possibilities)
                + Live interaction with others invited to tune in across various PLN's of educators interested in using educational technology with language learners
          o As a result of exposure to this instance of transformative learning through creative technogogy I'm hoping that some might achieve that aha! moment. In that case they might be encouraged to learn more through participation in further connectivist professional development via http://taedtech.ning.com, http://webheads.info and http://learning2gether.pbworks.com

When? 07:00 GMT (11 am in UAE, 8 am in Brighton ), at this time:

    * http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=PLN+in+UAE+teacher+professional+development&iso=20110416T11&p1=2&ah=1
    * or http://tinyurl.com/2011apr16-7gmt

Where? in Elluminate

    * http://home.learningtimes.net/learningtimes?go=273662
    * or  http://tinyurl.com/y3eh

Announcements:

    * http://aplanet-project.org/profiles/blogs/invitation-to-attend-a-virtual
    * http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2011/forum/welcomeintroductions