Lifelong learning in Web 2.0 environments

Teacher professional development (TPD) is no longer synonymous with acquiring new teaching techniques; it is rather about engaging with new forms of learning, reflected in the practice of teaching. With the participatory web, new opportunities for TPD have been created. Learning within a wider community is now a possibility for those interested in pursuing their learning path in a personalised and networked way. The web provides a platform for learning, but the learning environment is decidedly dependent on the interrelationships established amongst individuals. The effectiveness of the web lies on the opportunities it offers people to emerge as knowledge producers rather than information collectors. Although web tools provide a space for interaction, its added value is its transformation into an effective and interactive learning environment. This paper will examine learning and training experiences of languages teachers online as the basis for a discussion about professional development in the 21st century.