Event Date: 9th December 2021

About the Webinar:

Why do we invest in teacher observation and feedback? How might supervision be part of teacher empowerment and skill building? Observation and feedback are components of teacher professional development the world over, yet their complex nature requires sensitivity and flexibility to be truly growth-oriented and not only evaluative. Although supervisors and coaches have the best intentions, conferences with teachers often take on a predictable pattern, consisting of praise, followed by extensive suggestions for improvement, leaving the observed teacher at times confused and defensive. Therefore, there is a need for TESOL professionals to gain new insights in order to reject formulaic patterns of supervision that do not impact teacher beliefs, classroom practice, or student learning outcomes. In this session, we examine traditional approaches to supervision and ones that have the potential to make supervision focused on teacher development rather than compliance alone.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Laura Baecher is Professor of TESOL at Hunter College, City University of New York. She has been involved in TESOL teacher education for more than 25 years. Her interests relate to playful pedagogies, technology in teacher learning, observation and coaching for English language teaching, study abroad for educators, and professional development in TESOL. Her recent books are Reflecting on Problems of Practice in TESOL and Video in Teacher Learning: Through their Own Eyes. She is the Professional Development Blog author for TESOL, has served as the TESOL International’s Teacher Education Interest Section Chair, as an English Language Specialist for the US Department of State, and as President of New York State TESOL. The winner of multiple awards for teaching and service, she is committed to advancing the professional knowledge base of educators in ways that build community and sustain collaboration and reflection.