English Teachers Professional Development Needs for Web Development Skills: Meeting the Challenges of Teaching English Language in the Information Age

Abstract

Utilizing the resources of the web in educational practices has made instructional processes more efficient and interesting and has made the learning process on the other hand much easier and attractive. With the web, English language teachers now have the option of engaging learners in online (web-based) instructions in addition to the use of conventional classroom instructions or alternatively the use of a blended approach. Effective use of the web for instructional purposes requires basic knowledge of web design and development using HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), CSS (Castigating Style Sheet), JS (JavaScript), Content Management Systems (CMS), and Adobe Software package for web design. Thus, teachers’ professional development needs to be redirected toward providing this knowledge and skills. Providing teachers with these technological skills would help them in acquiring the competence needed in designing and developing instructional websites that suites their peculiar pedagogical and content needs for effective teaching and learning using the web. This article examines the contemporary knowledge and skills needed by teachers in general and English language teachers in particular to effectively use the web for instructional purposes and how such needed knowledge and skills can be developed through teacher professional development programs and pre-service teacher training for good practice.