This session will take an introductory look at the three main kinds of memory–sensory, working, and long-term–and look at how they interact during the learning process. In addition, we’ll explore how memory functions in Cognitive Load Theory, one of the major theories of learning today. With this theory in mind, we’ll end by discussing and reflecting on the implications for teachers and practical ways to apply these ideas in our classrooms.
BIO: Julia Daley currently teaches English writing and conversation at Hiroshima Bunkyo University. Prior to that, she taught writing in the USA at the secondary and tertiary levels. When she isn’t diving down neuroscience-related rabbit holes, she’s busy being bossed around by her very demanding cats and fish.
Zoom link information can be found on the event page.
https://www.facebook.com/events/200740951642126/
Using Google Slides to support Writing in Online or Hybrid Classrooms
This presentation focuses on an ongoing and small-scale classroom-based research project that evolved from the need to help students overcome the barriers of writing for academic purposes. It will offer background of both the project and the literature linking sociocultural perspectives and collaboration with writing to support noticing by increasing the “visibility” (Hyland, 2003) of academic writing features. In addition, the presentation will share practical, technology-based pedagogy (primarily Google Slides and Docs) for improving writing skills that will be of interest to teachers in CLIL and other academic writing classroom contexts.
Julia Christmas, (University of Niigata Prefecture) has classroom experience that includes many years at both secondary and tertiary institutions in Japan. Her research interests include CLIL and CALL.
Using Corpora to Support and Develop Writing Skills
This presentation hopes to show the basics of how to use the CocaCorpus and Sketch Engine for Language Learners. The presenter will explain how to make materials that help students do corpus searches by themselves (e.g., collocates, connotations, noticing patterns). Participants are encouraged to play active roles during this presentation as they’ll have the opportunity to try these tools for themselves in a breakout room workshop. Possible issues with these tools and how teachers can help students avoid them will also be shared.
Sarah Deutchman currently works at Waseda University where she has taught academic writing and discussion for 3 years. Her area of research focuses on using and analyzing corpora, building vocabulary lists based on corpora, and polysemy.
Storytelling Through Google Speech to Text
Google Speech to Text is a powerful voice technology that has become part of our daily lives with its applications such as Google Home. This presentation will delve into the technology from a learning standpoint and familiarize the students with the use of it for creating short stories through Google Docs. The activity will be extended online through a breakout room group discussion.
Timothy Ang is currently finishing his Masters in Bilingual and Multicultural Education at the University of Alcalá. He teaches English at universities in the Kansai area of Japan. His current interests include Task Based Learning, Student Motivation, Computer Assisted Learning, and Curriculum Development.
Planning a Day Out with Padlet
In this short presentation, the presenter will demonstrate how to use the map feature on Padlet. They will detail how their students practiced informative writing by creating reviews of favorite places in the area, then worked with a partner to plan a perfect day out. If time permits, participants can write a review of their favorite place.
Kathryn Akasaka came to Japan on the JET program and has been here ever since. She holds a BA in Education from Earlham College and currently works at Shirayuri JHS and HS and lecturing part time at Iwate University, Iwate Prefectural University and Iwate Medical University.
Using Online Discussion Boards to Teach Summarizing & Paraphrasing
In this short presentation, the presenter will share how they have used online discussion board tasks to help students learn to summarize and paraphrase, an essential skill in academic writing. They will also share how they helped students intentionally incorporate new vocabulary and grammar into their posts, and ultimately later in their term essays.
Rachel Stuart has been teaching in Japan for 6 years and holds a MA in TESOL from Biola University, California and currently teaches in the Bridge Program at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) in Misawa, Aomori. She is also the program chair for the Iwate-Aomori JALT Chapter.
The Iwate-Aomori chapter would like to invite you to participate in our upcoming ERT My Share event taking place on Sunday, August 23rd via Zoom.
After a very challenging few months navigating through our local contexts in the rise of COVID, there is no better time than now for us teachers to share what all we have gained that we will take with us in the fall. It is our hope that this My Share event will offer a chance to engage with teachers from various contexts to exchange the ideas, tips and tricks we’ve gained as we’ve adjusted and adapted to this pandemic.
We have a wonderful group of presenters, three from our local chapter, and two guest speakers from Osaka and Tokyo, who have lots to share with you about Nearpod, Moodle, Edmodo, Google apps, and so much more! These presenters will share how these tools can be used by anyone, regardless of how techy you may or may not be, and how they can be applied to the F2F classroom as well. We hope you will join us! Keep checking back for the presenter bios and summaries, as well as the Zoom meeting info that should be posted within the next week!
