Webheads in Action Online unConvergence

Webheads in Action, a world-wide multi-cultural online community of ESL/EFL educators and other professionals, invites your participation in a unique international conference held entirely online. Participation is free and open to all who are interested.

Description of Event:

WiAOC 2009 follows on the success of our first two completely free online global convergences in 2005 and 2007. This year's unConvergence will be a celebration of the work of educational professionals from a variety of fields in a wide variety of formats.

Why the 'un' in unConvergence? The WiAOC 2009 committee provides a framework for the convergence; however, the participants/presenters determine the focus and content of the convergence based on the identified tracks, so instead of submitting a proposal for review, we invite you to simply sign up for a time slot to present your ideas or research for discussion.

Who should present at WiAOC?

Students, Teachers, Educators, Administrators, IT professionals, librarians, and others interested in teaching, learning and technology. We encourage anyone interested in sharing expertise or discussing educational issues related to our theme to offer a session. WIAOC 2009 invites presentations (non-commercial only) that meet the needs of introductory through advanced users of educational technology on one or more of the conference tracks.

Tracks

Ubiquitous and Lifelong Learning
How can we leverage the unprecedented anytime anywhere access to information, networks and expertise? What teaching-learning paradigms are best suited to these new realities? How do we harness distributed learning networks and communities of practice to foster ongoing intercultural understanding, collaboration and professional development?

Emerging and Future Educational Technology
What technology and tools do you fee most impact education? What is the future of teaching and learning given the trends predicted in publications such as the Horizon Report: http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2009/ ; e.g. use of mobile devices, cloud computing, geolocationary tools, the personal web, semantic aware applications, smart objects, virtual worlds, augmented reality, gaming, ubiquitous computing

Educational Technology Worldwide
What are the practical realities of worldwide digital divisions? How do we overcome societal, administrative, technical and financial constraints to create powerful learning experiences? What joys have we encountered in intercultural collaborations?

Technology Innovations for Teaching and Learning
What technology tools, open source or otherwise, have you used successfully to engage students in the learning process, create a sense of community, or promote collaborative peer-to-peer learning? What innovative practices with web 2.0 tools/features have resulted in deeper learning or enhanced productivity? Sub topics: digital portfolios, digital storytelling, blogs, wikis, microblogging, podcasting, international collaborative projects, social networking applications, voice / VOIP tools

Virtual Worlds and Learning
To what extent is the potential future of the Internet and education being realized for teachers and learners worldwide? What locations, tools and networks are essential for broadening understanding and educational practices in virtual worlds? How are libraries, museums, universities and private organizations providing freely available educational opportunities?

Other
Feel free to offer sessions in other areas if you feel your area is pertinent to our theme.

Session Types

Proposals are invited for synchronous events, asynchronous events, or a combination of the two. Session topics can be pedagogical or technical, and might include examples of practical work with students, training sessions, reports of research or research in progress, demonstrations of new media, or descriptions or explorations of how interaction takes place over the Internet-e.g., how online communities form as a result of computer-mediated communication.

We encourage facilitators to incorporate an interactive component into the session (e.g.: an information presentation plus 15 min. question/answer period, or asynchronous presentation materials posted beforehand and a synchronous session to discuss them; interacting with other participants in hands-on demo or workshop format, etc.).

Technical Requirements:

Synchronous events (including, but not limited to presentations, workshops,
demonstrations, panel / roundtable discussions, chats and conversations) can be held at any of our partners' voice-enabled presentation portals, or one of your own choosing. Training and assistance will be available for presenters wishing to use our partners' venues. Asynchronous events might include bulletin board discussions, online poster sessions, integration with content management systems, or other formats.

Scheduling Presentations:

To propose a session, simply join the wiki and fill in the information requested at http://wiaoc09.pbwiki.com/schedule

In order that we can finalize arrangements for presenting, streaming, recording and archiving, please sign up for a time slot by May 15, 2009.

Date & Location of Events:

May 22-24, 2009, on the Web, at a computer near you - for information and registration go to: http://webheadsinaction.ning.com

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Best Education Training Workshops Blog URL
http://best-education-training-workshops.blogspot.com

Previous blog posts, education articles, links to information, education services and social media in the right side bar, 

List of education blogs below the posts.

Teaching the Pragmatics of a Second Language

A truly daunting challenge for second language learners is to adjust their language use so that it is appropriate for different socio-cultural contexts. How, for example, are learners supposed to address strangers, close friends, or people of higher social status in that culture? While acquiring discourse practices can take learners many years, research has shown that the process can be facilitated through explicit instruction.

This institute provides practical insights for teachers on how to enhance the learning of pragmatics. Participants will have hands-on opportunities to develop activities and materials for the classroom.

This institute is designed for K-16 ESL and foreign language teachers, material developers, curriculum coordinators, teacher educators, administrators, and researchers.

Testimonials from past participants:
Becoming aware and excited about new aspects of teaching are an important part of our continual development as instructors. The professional quality of the workshop, the ideas and experiences of other participants will definitely result in benefits for my students.

Pragmatics positively encourages successful communication, and successful communication means getting what we want. Isn't that what teachers need to motivate and encourage students and to raise all student's achievements? We need this kind of training!

Presenters:
Noriko Ishihara, PhD, Hosei University, Japan
Andrew D. Cohen, PhD, University of Minnesota (guest speaker)

Readings include:

Ishihara, N., & Cohen, A. D. (in press).
Teaching and learning pragmatics: Where language and culture meet. Pearson Education (latest manuscript to be shared with all participants)

2009 Registration Information

Registration Cost: $400 Early registration ($350*)

As a special incentive for early registration, the cost for each institute is $50* less if registration is postmarked on or before May 31, 2009. Many of the institutes regularly fill to capacity, so register early. Do NOT purchase airline tickets until you have received confirmation of your completed registration.

CARLA Summer Institutes, Event # 181999
College of Continuing Eduation
University of MN
20 Coffey Hall
1420 Eckles Ave
St Paul MN 55108-6069

This is a non-credit registration. You may register for credit on the first day of the institute for an additional cost for many of the institutes. See Clock Hours/Credit for more information.

Refunds can be issued up to 10 working days prior to the institute (minus a $25 processing fee). After that date, refunds minus $75 will be issued upon receipt of written request. Refunds will not be granted after the start of the institute.

The University of Minnesota (U of MN) reserves the right to cancel any institute if necessary, in which case participants will receive a full refund for that institute.

All registrants are sent an electronic receipt of registration payment. Sometimes participants don't see the receipt because their computer refers this email to their junk mailbox.

If you need a duplicate receipt you should send the following information to the registrar at: info@cce.umn.edu

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Best Education Training Workshops Blog URL
http://best-education-training-workshops.blogspot.com/

Previous blog posts, education articles, links to information, education services and social media in the right side bar, 

List of education blogs below the posts.