The goal of the Electronic Village Online (EVO) is to provide free online professional development in a collaborative setting to teachers of English as a second or foreign language. It was created in 2000 as a Special Project by the Computer-Assisted Language Learning Interest Section (CALL-IS) of TESOL International Association and is represented on the Steering Committee of the CALL-IS. True to its beginnings, EVO moderators and trainers are all volunteers, and EVO maintains its volunteer and non-commercial nature, prohibiting advertising and commercial sponsorship. EVO recognizes the contributions of and collaboration with organizations of similar intent, and welcomes and encourages participation and contributions of the IATEFL special interest groups, TESOL and IATEFL affiliates, and other organizations with similar constructive, non-commercial purposes. EVO is open to all participants interested in professional development or groups/teams willing to offer a session, regardless of their affiliation to TESOL, IATEFL or other, whether TESOL or IATEFL members or not.

For 25 years, EVO sessions have focused on integrating technology into teaching and learning, and topics have included current and cutting-edge tools and pedagogical applications in the field of TESOL. EVO sessions are like online workshops or courses, as they typically offer weekly live chats (audio/video) to session participants, who then explore the weekly topic in more depth in online discussions and collaborate on projects in a learning management system (LMS). Participants receive badges or a certificate of participation for the work completed during the session. For many years, EVO session moderators have showcased their sessions through live webcasts, offered as part of the programming of the CALL-IS during the annual TESOL Convention, and open to participants worldwide at no charge. 

EVO across the years: 

• • • Liakos N., et al. (2016). All Aboard for the Electronic Village ... Online. CALL-IS Newsletter, March 2016 

    • Hanson-Smith, E. & Bauer-Ramazani, C. (2004). Professional development: The Electronic Village Online of the TESOL CALL Interest Section. TESL-EJ, 8(2).

    • Electronic Village Online - WikiEducator. (2009.). https://wikieducator.org/Electronic_Village_Online.