Title: "Computer Supported Collaborative Learning for Teacher Learning and Professional Development"

Day: Friday, June 3, 2005

Time: 15:30-17:00

Location: A02

Chairs: Mary Lamon, Hwawei Ko

Panelists: Therese Laferriere, Paul Resta

Teacher Panelists: Michelle Barber, Eddy Lee, Maggie Prevanas, Maura Ross, Doris Wu

Abstract:
The Education for All 2015 target (UNESCO, 2000) is pushing teacher education and professional development to the forefront for developing and developed countries. To meet the goal of educating all students to be knowledge workers and to prepare them for complex roles in a technological world, teachers will need to participate in the design of challenging curricula using emerging devices, tools, media and virtual environments; and to adapt their teaching strategies and assessments to ensure that students learn how to work collaboratively to improve knowledge. Thus, there is an increasing worldwide focus on lifelong teacher learning driven by the increasing impact of technology, and an escalating pace of change in much of society.

In addition, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization estimates that 15-35 million new teachers will be required to meet the goals of Education for All. In response to the need for more and better qualified teachers, UNESCO commissioned a new book Teacher Development in an E-Learning Age: A Policy and Planning Guide to inform decision-makers of key issues, strategies, and new approaches in the use of computer supported collaborative learning for teacher development.

After a brief introduction of lessons learned in preparing the book, we will explore the trends, issues, and challenges in the use of computer supported collaborative learning for teacher development from the perspectives of researchers and teachers. Our collective goal is to address a central challenge for CSCL: the researcher – practitioner divide inhibiting educational progress.

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