Source: MOFET ITEC Webinars
Higher education systems have undergone huge changes in the last decades which forced them to redefine their traditional roles, rethink their theoretical premises and restructure their operational practices. This presentation examines the impact of the immense changes in higher education on the shaping of teacher training frameworks worldwide. It relates to: the diversity of teacher training institutional models; manifestations of professional upgrade; the need of harmonization; changing roles of teachers in the knowledge era; the teaching-research dilemma in teacher training institutions; implementation of the digital technologies; the challenge of networking in a global environment.
Prof. Sarah Guri-Rosenblit is the Director of International Academic Outreach and the Head of Graduate Studies in Education at the Open University of Israel. She obtained her PhD in education and political science from Stanford University in 1984. Her areas of expertise are comparative research of higher education systems, distance education and e-learning. She has published books and dozens of articles in these fields. She was selected in 2005/6 as one of the 30 New Century Scholars in the Fulbright Program on: 'Higher Education in the 21st Century: Global Challenge and National Response'. From 2003 until 2009 she has been a member of the Scientific Committee of Europe and North America in the UNESCO Forum of Higher Education, Research and Knowledge. She is also a member of expert evaluations panels of HESC (Higher Education and Social Change) under the auspices of the European Science Foundation, and the Bellagio Conference Center of the Rockefeller Foundation. Her new book on Digital Technologies in Higher Education: Sweeping Expectations and Actual Effects was published in March 2009 by Nova Science in New York, and a paperback version of this book has been published in November 2010.
What exactly is an online encounter?
The online encounter environment (WEBINAR) enables presentations, sites, programs and video movies to be presented in parallel to an interactive discussion with the audience by means of vocal and written communication and the use of signs for expressing emotion. Each participant has his own communication channel and can request and receive permission to speak and voice his opinions. The big advantage of online encounters lies in the fact that there is no need to go to the place where the event is being held since it is possible to participate in the activities at home. Most of the online encounters take place at times that are convenient for the participants.