Are TeachMeets the Most Effective Form of CPD for Languages Teachers?

The TeachMeet concept is simple: Let’s meet to talk about what we have been up to in the classroom. Technology is often central to the event: it has often been discussed on Twitter and various fora like MFLResources.

It is informal and yet it follows quite a few unwritten-or even sometimes written rules like a “no powerpoints please” rule to ensure presenters try to engage more fully with their audience-or at least that is what I think the benefit of such rule may be!

Whatever the practical details, the aim of the meeting is to foster a focused and honest exchange of ideas and good practice. So this is no place to go and talk for hours or unashamedly advertise your own products!

As I could not attend in person, I was delighted to see that a flashmeeting would be available to watch and comment via the flashmeeting chat facility. The flashmeeting was recorded bd can be accessed here (part 1) and here (part 2).

In real unconference style, a wiki was first set up to enable participants to register interest and allow them to volunteer for different short speeches on a topic of their choice. A Ning was also available to receive more information and to ensure pre and post-teachmeet networking as well as the sharing of all Teachmeet materials.

After the conference, which I followed live from the comfort of my own home, I read about a few of the blog posts about it on Chris Harte’s and Helena Butterfield’s blog.

I was also particularly impressed by the use of Etherpad to support the exchange of information within the TeachMeet as well as facilitate better networking. In my case, I was able to find even more interesting people to follow on Twitter and blogs to read...

Truly impressive! Now I can’t wait the TeachMeet North West in October, the London Show & Tell on 1st November and the Coventry Show & Tell on 14th November

That should care of CPD for the Autumn term...