Conducting Online Courses for the Professional Development of English Teachers: Integration of Synchronous and Asynchronous Components

The design and implementation of teacher training courses for English teachers demand careful strategic planning to integrate synchronous and asynchronous components effectively. Such courses play a critical role in fostering meaningful professional development by addressing the unique needs of educ...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Banfi, Cristina, Esquerré, Analía, Frenzel, Monica
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:Uruguay
Institución:Universidad ORT Uruguay
Repositorio:RAD
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:rad.ort.edu.uy:20.500.11968/7732
Acceso en línea:https://revistas.ort.edu.uy/cuadernos-de-investigacion-educativa/article/view/4065
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11968/7732
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:cursos en línea
desarrollo profesional
sincrónico
asincrónico
formación docente
competencias pedagógicas
online courses
professional development
synchronous
asynchronous
teacher training
pedagogical competencies
cursos online
desenvolvimento profissional
síncrono
assíncrono
formação docente
competências pedagógicas
Descripción
Sumario:The design and implementation of teacher training courses for English teachers demand careful strategic planning to integrate synchronous and asynchronous components effectively. Such courses play a critical role in fostering meaningful professional development by addressing the unique needs of educators and their educational contexts. This article examines the essential considerations for creating an online learning environment that supports both theoretical understanding and practical application. Key aspects discussed include aligning learning objectives with interactive and engaging activities, leveraging accessible and user-friendly technological tools, and cultivating spaces for reflection, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among participants. The integration of synchronous sessions enables real-time interaction, fostering a sense of community and immediacy, while asynchronous components provide flexibility and opportunities for self-paced learning. Together, these elements ensure a balanced approach to teacher development. The article also highlights strategies for bridging theory and practice, ensuring that educators can apply course content to real-world classroom scenarios. These strategies include using case studies, project-based tasks, and reflective exercises tailored to the challenges teachers face in their practice. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of designing culturally and linguistically inclusive learning experiences that not only strengthen teachers' pedagogical and linguistic competencies, but also enhance their capacity to create effective language learning opportunities for students. By prioritizing sustainable and context-sensitive approaches, these courses can contribute significantly to improving language education outcomes. Furthermore, it follows Guskey (2002) in valuing the assessment of instances of professional development with a view to improvement.