Vance has produced a paper associated with this talk and blogged it here: http://advanceducation.blogspot.com/2009/04/global-and-local-visions-webheads-and.html Evolving communities of practice" (p. 15) with Suresh Canagarajah, Yuko Goto-Butler, Takako Nishino, and Jane Hoelker. Scheduled for March 27 at 10:00 a.m. in Denver. TESOL program abstract (50 words): Whether learning or teaching English in the EFL context, the model of Communities of Practice moves individuals and groups forward in their development. Examples of shared practices implemented in elementary, secondary and tertiary institutions as well as in programs of teacher professional development conducted on worldwide communication networks are discussed. My contribution is entitled "The Webheads and Distributed Communities of Practice" and its abstract is: In these times of globalization and worldwide communication networks, distributed communities (or any community of practice that cannot rely on face-to-face meetings and interactions as its primary vehicle for connecting members) are becoming more common. The concept of distributed CoPs has been implemented in ongoing teacher professional development, foremost through Webheads in Action and in various other communities and offshoots from these, such as such as EVO (Electronic Village Online) and numerous TESOL conference presentations. How Wenger’s concept of CoPs has evolved after his encounter with the Webheads online will also be discussed.

1. The Webheads and Distributed Communities of Practice Vance Stevens Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, UAE Presentation made as panelist on a colloquium held March 27, 2009 at the annual TESOL Convention in Denver Vance Stevens TESOL 2009

2. Global and local visions: Evolving communities of practice Panelists: Vance Stevens, Suresh Canagarajah, Yuko Goto-Butler, Toni Hull, Perin Jusara, Golge Seferoglu, Takako Nishino, and Jane Hoelker March 27, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Annual TESOL Convention in Denver Colloquium abstract : Whether learning or teaching English in the EFL context, the model of Communities of Practice moves individuals and groups forward in their development. Examples of shared practices implemented in elementary, secondary and tertiary institutions as well as in programs of teacher professional development conducted on worldwide communication networks are discussed. Presented at the colloquium, entitled: Vance Stevens TESOL 2009