Abstract
References
- Appana, S. (2008). A review of benefits and limitations of online learning in the context of the student, the instructor and the tenured faculty. International Journal on E-Learning, 7(1), 5-22.
Designing Culturally Appropriate Online Professional Development for English Language Teachers through the Incorporation of the Action Research Paradigm
Abstract
A qualitative heuristic, single case study was conducted into the cultural suitability
of an extended international online professional development (PD) course for English
language teachers. To promote cultural suitability, course participants were required
to utilise action research within their specific professional context and to consider,
through reflection and discussion, the appropriateness of pedagogic methodologies,
approaches and materials presented within the course. The research therefore aimed
to determine whether an online environment can be designed to promote culturally
empathetic professional engagements delivering relevant learnings, and whether the
action research paradigm can foster culturally suitable professional development.
Course participants were practicing English language teachers in various
professional settings, predominantly in the Pacific region, and identifying as being
monolingual English speakers, multilingual with English as one first language or
having English as a second or other language. The research’s qualitative
methodology employed a thematic analysis of the multiple sources of collected data,
including a narrative written by the course provider, with the discussion and
conclusions emanating from the triangulation of the generated themes and relevant
contemporary literature. The research concluded that online PD can be designed to
provide a culturally empathetic learning environment, and by adopting the action
research paradigm, the mode of course delivery was deemed to be successful in
providing culturally suitable professional development.
Keywords
English language teaching Action research Cultural suitability Thematic analysis Professional development
References
- Appana, S. (2008). A review of benefits and limitations of online learning in the context of the student, the instructor and the tenured faculty. International Journal on E-Learning, 7(1), 5-22.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | July 1, 2017 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2017 Volume: 7 Issue: 2 |