SESSION 2E

Darren Brookes, NEAS/UECA
Connecting digitally: Using the Canvas LMS and social media to engage ASEAN research grant recipients online

Abstract
The 2014 - 2018 Cambodia TESOL Regional Research Grant program has attracted a wide variety of ASEAN ELT researchers eager to showcase their research in the form of a presentation and paper for the Cambodia TESOL Regional Research Symposium. This symposium, sponsored by UECa, NEAS, IELTS and IDP, is held in Phnom Penh each February. Research grant recipients are selected from a number of ASEAN member countries including, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and The Philippines.

In this session, the UECa project coordinator will present on the various online resources and strategies used to help mentor this diverse cohort of researchers across a vast region in South-East Asia. Some of the researchers are first time researchers and presenters and are mentored by staff from UECa member centres. These centres also directly sponsor the program. This year NEAS is also sponsoring researchers and offering digital support in the form of space on their Canvas LMS. The presenter will also demonstrate how the Canvas LMS has been used to create a transformative online community of practice for researchers and mentors.

Bio
Darren Brookes works as a NEAS Quality Assurance Assessor, freelance instructional designer and project coordinator in Victoria. Darren holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and CALL from The University of Queensland. Darren also holds qualifications in quality auditing and project management. Darren has worked across the ELICOS, EFL, VET and higher education sectors for twenty years. Darren's interests include creating sustainable online and face to face communities of practice, enabling digital connectivity and supporting transformational learning between peers.