Title: Mobile phones for professional development and English teaching in Bangladesh

Authors: Christopher S. Walsh; Prithvi Shrestha; Claire Hedges

Addresses: Faculty of Education and Language Studies, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK ' Faculty of Education and Language Studies, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK ' Faculty of Education and Language Studies, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK

Abstract: Using mobile phones for large-scale teacher professional development in developing economies like Bangladesh is rare. We present a case study of English in Action (EIA) and its use of mobile technologies, audiovisual materials and portable rechargeable speakers that moves beyond documenting their functionality as ubiquitous handheld hardware to enhance and extend the reach of teaching and learning. It presents compelling evidence of an effective and innovative professional development intervention that simultaneously improves students' communicative English language acquisition. We argue this large-scale intervention is significant in enhancing teachers' professional knowledge and presents important implications for using mobile phones for international development.

Keywords: English in Action; EIA; teachers; professional development; communicative language teaching; CLT; mobile phones; cell phones; mobile technologies; cellular communications; Bangladesh; English language; teaching; developing economies; audiovisual materials; portable speakers; rechargeable speakers; functionality; ubiquitous hardware; handheld hardware; language acquisition; professional knowledge; international development; Open University; United Kingdom; UK; innovation; learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2013.052287

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2013 Vol.13 No.2, pp.183 - 200

Published online: 31 Jul 2013 *

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