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"Online Teacher Development Works Best - 15 Reasons Why I've started this article with quite a bold statement, but it's a conclusion that I have been coming too over the course of quite a few years now. I should really put this into context though, as most of the teacher training I do deals with pedagogical training for the use of technology and is most often delivered during intensive face to face sessions, usually with groups of teachers working in a computer lab. Though, having said that, I do still believe that many of the reasons I have listed below do also apply to other kinds of more 'mainstream' teacher development too, especially intensive courses. So, here are my 15 reasons why I think developing your teaching online can be more effective. Learn while you teach - This gives you the opportunity to try things out with your own classes working in your own environment with your own students. Often when we take a face to face intensive course we leave our familiar teaching environment and come back with lots of new ideas only to find that in our everyday reality many of them don't work or create unforeseen problems that we don't know how to deal with. Studying while we teach can give us the time to try out new ideas in our own work place, discover the obstacles and try to adapt them to our own context. Non competitive - Face to face courses can often become quite competitive and tend to favour people who are more confident and extrovert and who like to shine. This can often lead to the quieter more reflective types being overshadowed and not having the opportunity to contribute what may well be valuable comment or ask the questions for which they need answers. The text based and asynchronous nature of online training makes it much easier for everyone to have their say and can lead to a much richer and more collaborative learning experience. Work at your own computer -

"Used wisely, technology empowers students to take responsibility for their own learning. In Leonardo's Laptop, Ben Shneiderman provides teachers with a powerful framework, Collect-Relate-Create-Donate (CRCD), for designing student-centered learning opportunities using computers."

Here are the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2013 - the results of the 7th Annual Learning Tools Survey.

Great site for kids. They will learn while they play and play while they learn. There are five ways of searching for resources here: keyword search, category search, alphabetical search, digital search through three icons of picture, sound, and video, and dewey decimal search. Each category leads to several websites. It has one disadvantage though: there isn't an exhaustive list of topics like one finds in any encyclopedia. It is more a kids' site with resources more geared towards them.

It is a very helpful website. You can learn English words, practice grammar, look at some basic rules, prepare for exams, do tests or just have fun playing games. Enjoy yourself with more than 750 exercises online.

You will find a lot of information about the English language on this site. You can learn English words, practise grammar, look at some basic rules, prepare for exams, do tests or just have fun playing games. Enjoy yourself with more than 750 exercises online.

This site provides about 10 wonderful resources on Human Rights for different grades .The classroom resource on African American journalist Ida B W ells provides event description, wonderful classroom activity which enables the students to read , brainstorm ideas and then write.It also provides a wide range of resources to create a class newspaper. The international book of teens- a parent and after school resource helps students to have a better view of the world through an exposure to international books and offer a"sustained look at war , poverty and struggle for human rights"A book review in audio provides the right ambiance for further reading and comments section gives option for free expression of thoughts and suggestions.The graphic novel -Mous gives a visual treat nudging the reluctant reader to achieve the learning objectives.The lesson plan on `How big are Martins words` is a good resource for learning vocabulary and for developing creativity.The theory to practice gives ample food for thought to the user There is also option in this site for saving the students work with student inter actives. Overall, its a great site rich with a corpus of resources on human rights

Free website for learners of English

I saw John Medina speak a few weeks ago. He has some amazing research about the brain and how we learn. I definitely recommend checking it out!

A very useful place to learn how to teach English as a foreign language

Help your students learn vocabulary in context and build their reading comprehension skills by using the website. The more difficult the text is, the more this free software aids students to unpack what they read.

this is a highly informative and interesting site for both teachers and students. There are numerous colourful activities that can play a vital role in motivating our students and arousing their interest. I highly recommend it to all the viewers and group members.

Pictorial graphics for the learners with printable pictures. Good to teach learners with pictures.

Site is good for the teachers to continue with Professional Development related course, books, materials, blogs etc.

Site is good for the teachers to continue with Professional Development related course, books, materials, blogs etc.

This website is great for teaching young children to read using phonics.  

Teaching- learning with fun.

This is a great information page. You can find lots of texts and information on human rights that can definetely be helpful in your classroom. It gives you access to a learning center, a resource center and networks. My topic was right to life, but this page offers a great deal regarding all human rights.

This is a very good website about the issue of Gender equality and includes the history of Women Rights.

A good site to learn web 2.0 tools for ELT