1. TeachingEnglish have just published a report by Gary Motteram, Improving teacher development through the effective use of social media groups https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/publications/case-studies-insights-and-research/improving-teacher-development-through-effective-use

Here’s the beginning of the abstract: The trend for using social media for teacher development started before the Covid-19 pandemic but has now become a far more common and established practice. This report explains why the use of social media is an important tool for teacher development and looks at how online learning theories may be applied to this kind of teacher education. We include case studies from various countries to show what works best in social media teacher groups. We also conducted a questionnaire to gather insights from teachers worldwide. The questionnaire asked about the use of social media for teacher education, the activities teachers do online, and how useful they find these tools. The results highlight how these tools can help make education more fair and accessible. (My emphasis)

PDF of the report below.

In addition, next Thursday, 8^th August, at 12:00 UK time Gary is giving a webinar on the topic with Nicky Hockly https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-and-events/webinars/webinars-teacher-educator/supporting-teacher-development-through-effective

If you’re keen, scroll down the page a bit to the pre-webinar task and the pre-webinar reading!

2. From the Cambridge Partnership for Education, a blog post by Helen Cunningham on The future of schooling https://www.cambridge.org/partnership/future-of-schooling

In 2006, Sir Ken Robinson delivered the most watched TED talk of all time. Asking, ‘Do schools kill creativity?’ he concluded that “We have to rethink the fundamental principles on which we’re educating our children.” The expectation that learning in the future will need to cover different things, happen in different places, at different times and via different media has only proliferated since. As we approach the UN’s first ever ‘Summit of the Future’, there is international momentum for ‘a fundamental rethink’ of our systems. Schools are at the heart of those systems, and their role in shaping our societies cannot be underestimated. ‘Schooling’, education received at school, is the anchor for learning that happens across a person’s life and experiences.

I’m not sure that very much has changed in most education systems since 2006 – certainly not in the principles underpinning them – despite the popularity of the Robinson video. Using new technology for the same old same old?

3. Jim McKinley pointed out that The University of Sydney TESOL Research YouTube channel is well worth a look https://www.youtube.com/@USydTESOLResearch There’s some good short videos with Jack Richards and Ken Cruickshank: try this one of Jack’s on The Role of Textbooks in Language Teaching https://youtu.be/NPw61jKCrqI

4. A new publication from the British Council, Soft Power at a Turning Point – a comparative analysis https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/soft_power_at_a_turning_point.pdf

From the (slightly disheartening) executive summary: Our headline finding is that in 2024, countries are increasingly prioritising national interests over multilateralism and the global order. There is more alignment of soft power activities with foreign and economic policy goals, and less emphasis on shared global challenges. Domestic considerations are also more prominent, with a focus on demonstrating benefits to higher education and creative sectors. PDF below.

5. And, finally, two really good short videos from a Michelin-starred chef, Andrew Wong:

* ‘velveting’ meat for tenderness (which I’m proud to say I do but didn’t know was called velveting) https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/behind-the-pass/andrew-wong-2

* how to ‘laminate’ dim sum pastry (which I don’t do!)  https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/behind-the-pass/andrew-wong

I need to start saving up so I can afford to go to his restaurant!