Abstract

In this presentation, a blog-based e-learning environment and learning community for pre-service language teachers will be introduced. After 2 years of development, Platforms for Language Teacher Education (PLaTE) is set up with the aims of providing academic and professional support to students, graduates and teaching professionals through a variety of online reference and learning tools. PLaTE includes: 1.databases of self-developed teaching and learning materials and videos of exemplar teaching, available at English Teacher Education on the Net (ETENet) and Chinese Teacher Education on the Net (CTENet); 2.online platforms for exchanges of insights on current issues of language teaching, available at Netter and Bo Yu; and, 3.blog-based teaching portfolios of students. The blog-based Teaching Portfolio was first introduced to Year 3 and Year 4 BEd. in Language Education (English) undergraduate students at the Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong in the academic year 2007-2008. The aim of setting up the blog is to promote reflective, collaborative and dialogic environment for academic and professional development. Student teachers were expected to take active participation in the blog during their practicum to upload their lesson plans, reflections and video-taped lessons, initiate discussion and exchange views. An end of practicum survey showed that the new initiative was well-received and supported by the students. In this presentation, we will present: 1.the objectives and design of PLaTE ; 2.results of the survey on blog-based Teaching Portfolio; and, 3.the pedagogical implications of blog-based Teaching Portfolio