Event Reminder, first of 2014 is Tomorrow!
Yojalt Publicity
“Cooperative learning: teaching that is as easy as 1-2-3-4″ by Joël Laurier
Saturday, January 18th
Time: 1pm-4:45pm
Location: Yokohama Youth Centre, under Kannai Hall http://kannaihall.jp/access/index.html
Abstract:Current reforms in the educational landscape are pushing toward a more student-centered approach to education. The talk is now of learning more than teaching. Cooperative Learning (CL) is a research based teaching pedagogy that provides an effective teaching approach, especially in language learning. Through interactive, task based activities, students learn to take control of their own learning. By making students the center of learning, the role of the teacher becomes that of a facilitator, reducing the need to rely on teacher-centered presentations. The classroom then becomes a place where students and teachers work together to create meaningful and fulfilling learning experiences. This hands on workshop will show how attendees how they can use CL to increase active participation between students, build confidence for teachers, and deliver more student-centered English lessons. Attendees will be shown effective CL structures that make learning the student’s responsibility and facilitating the teacher’s concern.’
Bio: Joël Laurier is a teacher at Gunma Kokusai Academy. He is a 2013 Kagan Academy Cooperative Learning Scholarship winner and the 2011 John F. Fanselow Scholarship recipient from Teachers College Columbia University, where he received his MA in TESOL. His research interests include language policy and bilingualism but he is best known for his cooperative learning training. Along with his son, Noah, Mr. Laurier is the voice and face of the award-winning Yomiuri Kodomo Shinbum’s Hello Eikaiwa weekly feature.