Professional Development through Collaboration

Date: Sunday, June 14th, 2009
Time: 1:15 - 4:45 (registration begins at 1:00)
Location: Aranvert Hotel Kyoto (Subway Karasuma Line - Gojo Station)

Brain-based teaching and Learning-Centered Activities

With the overwhelming success of the Kyoto JALT MASH '09 meeting in February, we have decided to adopt that format again. This time, the focus will be on brain-based teaching and learning-centered activities, with a keynote presentation on brain studies by Dr. Curtis Kelly, a poster session by five teachers and discussion circles for everyone.

Schedule

  1:00 - Registration
  1:15 - Keynote Presentation: "Brain Studies and the Science of Learning" by Dr. Curtis Kelly

  2:15 - Break

  2:30 - Poster Session: Five Teachers Share Learning-Centered Methods & Activities

  3:30 - Break
  3:45 - Discussion Circles: Issues and Action Plans
  4:45 - Wrap-up and clean up

Details

1. Keynote Presentation: Brain Studies and the Science of Learning 1:15 – 2:15

Brain studies give us a better picture of how learning occurs. A growing movement called “brain-compatible teaching” calls on us to develop teaching practices that focus less on language and more on how it is learned. In an updated version of his popular featured speaker JALT2008 workshop, the presenter discusses discoveries such as the roles of deep processing, sleep, interaction, body maps and emotion.

2. Poster Session: Learning-Centered Methods & Activities 2:30 - 3:30

How can we use what we know about learning in the classroom? Look at some of the things our colleagues are doing to make English teaching more brain-compatible.

3. Discussion Circles: Issues and Action Plans 3:45 – 4:45

Let’s put our heads together and discuss some of the issues raised in the presentation and poster sessions. A variety of group discussion circles will be organized with specific topics, such as “What kind of action research could we do to test these claims?” or “How can we adapt our teaching to fit the multiple intelligences theory?” Participants choose circles, work together to find answers to these questions, make action plans and offer ideas back to the whole group.

Call for poster session presenters and group discussion facilitators (deadline May 10th, 2009)

We invite JALT members and MASH collaborators to submit proposals for this event. Presenters will range from new up-and-comers to seasoned veterans; there is something for everyone and something we can learn from everyone. So, please come and join in the conversation about teaching in our unique EFL context. We look forward to receiving your proposals or welcoming you to our audience.

Formats available:

1. Presenter - Poster session that will run for 60 minutes.

- the topic should be of use to as many people as possible

- it can be research, methods or activities related

- you can do it in either presentation or open discussion style

- you should prepare a banner title and a series of posters

2. Facilitator - Discussion circle that will run for 40 minutes with 20 minutes for group reports.

- think of an issue related to making class more learning centered

- choose a question you do not have a clear answer for that lends itself to making new action plans

- make a 40-minute discussion plan (each group will have about 4 minutes to summarize)

- prepare 10 handouts and action plan worksheets

Please submit a maximum 150-word abstract for a poster session. For the discussion circles, please write a description of the kind of discussion that you would like to facilitate. Also, please submit your personal information. You can easily input all of this directly onto the MASH website. The deadline is May 10th, 2009.

Click to see a large gallery of photos from Kyoto JALT MASH '09. For any further information, please contact MASH Collaborator, Steven Herder steven.herder@gmail.com or Kyoto JALT Program Chair, Michi Saki, michimako3@gmail.com