JAPANESE TEXT APPEARS FOR SOME ENTRIES
Also see http://www.jalt.org/global/sig/Conferences.htm
Who is Spencer Kagan?
Dr. Spencer Kagan, director of Kagan Publishing and Professional Development, is a former professor of Psychology and Education at the University of California, author, lecturer, and teacher trainer. He has personally trained over a hundred thousand teachers and educational leaders worldwide.
Dr. Kagan’s structural approach to cooperative learning and multiple intelligences fosters peace, equality, respect for differences, self-esteem and character development, as well as academic success.
Dr. Kagan has published over 75 scientific books, book chapters, and journal articles, focusing on the development of cooperation, cooperative learning, multiple intelligences, social development, cognitive styles and cognitive abilities. Dr. Kagan created the concept of “structures.” Kagan structures allow an easy integration of cooperative learning, multiple intelligence, and character development into any lesson at any grade level or age, for subjects taught in a first or in an additional (second or foreign) language. Dr. Kagan has developed many popular cooperative learning and multiple intelligences structures such as Numbered Heads Together, Kinesthetic Symbols, Stroll Pair Share, Pairs Check, Co-op Co-op, Pairs Compare, and Visualize Share.
Dr. Kagan’s books Cooperative Learning, and Multiple Inteligences (co-authored by Miguel Kagan), are among the most popular in their fields. His book, Silly Sports and Goofy Games, provides a comprehensive presentation of non-traditional sports and games; activities which are used as energizers and “brain breaks” at all grade levels. Dr. Kagan and his work have been featured in Educational Leadership and Learning Magazine. His books have been used in schools of education to train teachers world-wide.
Dr. Kagan’s online magazine:
http://www.kaganonline.com/Newsletter/index.html
Where will he be speaking in Japan?
(Check this website for further information: http://www.jalt.org/global/sig/Conferences.htm )
Monday, Sept. 15, 2003 (Nagoya) 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
“Cooperative structures and language learning” Sponsors: Nagoya, Gifu, and Toyohashi JALT chapters, Teacher Education and Teaching Children SIGs, JAPANetwork, and Trident Preschool Contact: Linda Donan
Cooperative learning is a natural catalyst for language learning. Cooperative learning structures can be incorporated easily as part of any lesson, with a powerful mpact on comprehensible input and frequency of language output opportunities. Perhaps most importantly, the cooperative structures reduce the affective filter and provide a positive, natural context for language learning. Come learn a range of simple cooperative learning structures that can be included in any lesson to promote language learning, including Draw-A-Gambit, Three Pair Share and Same Different.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003 (Nagoya) Nanzan University 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
“Cooperative structures to promote critical reflection” Contact: Louise Haynes
Cooperative learning and critical reflection are natural allies. As the English saying goes “two heads are better than one” (or in Japanese: “sannin yoreba monju no chie”– three persons have the wisdom of Buddha!)
Dr. Kagan has identified fifteen distinct types of thinking that prepare students for full participation in the information age. Brain imaging research reveals different brain structures engaged with the different types of thinking. Dr. Kagan has developed different cooperative structures to promote each type of thinking. Kagan structures are used without taking time away from academic content — students acquire and develop thinking skills while mastering traditional subject area content. To effectively promote higher level reasoning, creativity, flexibility, problem-solving and critical thinking, come learn Kagan cooperative structures such as Pairs Compare and Find the Fiction.
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 (Nagoya) Location TBA Time 10:50 AM – 12:20 PM Title TBA Contact: Jane Nakagawa
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003 (Tokyo) at Teachers College 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
“Kagan Cooperative Structures to Promote Language Learning, Caring, and Peace” co-sponsored by Teachers College, JASCD and GILE Contact: Michele Milner
Dr. Kagan’s simple cooperative structures are transforming instruction in classrooms world-wide. His simple structures dramatically increase comprehensible input, language practice opportunities, and a safe context in which to try on unfamiliar language forms. At the same time students learn to accept and celebrate diversity, and understand and care for each other. The ultimate outcome is a transformation of social orientation from a “Us versus Them” to a “We” orientation. Come experience the power of Kagan’s simple cooperative structures like Timed Pair Interview, RoundRobin, and Mix-N-Match.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003 (Tokyo) Ochanomizu University 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
“Cooperative structures for any lesson”
Contact: Diane Nagatomo
Dr. Kagan presents a revolutionary approach to instruction: Structures. There is always a structure in the classroom. Structures determine academic achievement as well as a host of non-academic outcomes. Knowledge and implementation of a range of structures dramatically improves educational outcomes. Come learn the theory of structures and experience the power of Kagan structures like Numbered Heads Together, RallyRobin, and Team Statements.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003 (Tokyo) Soka University 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
“Multiple intelligences: visions, myths, and structures” Contact: Prof. Sekita
Multiple Intelligences Theory offers education three powerful visions: 1) teaching the way students best learn; 2) developing a range of intelligences; 3) celebrating diversity. Dr. Kagan and his co-workers have developed dozens of easy-to-use, easy-to-implement structures such as Kinesthetic Symbols and Visualize Share for each of eight intelligences. The structures allow any teacher to realize all three visions as part of any lesson. Come deepen your understanding of Multiple Intelligences Theory and of structures such as Kinesthetic Symbols, Window Panes, and RallyRetell — novel ways to align instruction with the three visions.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2003 (Tokyo) Seisen University, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
“Positive human relations via cooperative structures” (Pre-conference workshopat Peace as a Global Language II conference) Contact: Alison Miyake
Classroom structures determine academic achievement as well as a host of non-academic outcomes.
Traditional classroom structures undermine positive social relations. Cooperative structures, in contrast, enhance understanding of self and others, respect for differences, empathy, self esteem, as well as liking for school and classmates. Remarkably, cooperative structures improve human relations without taking time from academics. Students actually learn and retain more when cooperative structures are used.
To help you build positive peer relationships in your classroom, while maximizing student learning come learn structures like Team Interview, Agree-Disagree Line-Ups, and Timed Pair Share.
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003 (Tokyo) Seisen University 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
“Cooperative structures, character, and peace” (Experiential plenary at Peace as a Global Language II conference) Contact: Alison Miyake
There is always a structure in the classroom, and the structures we use on a daily basis form character. A teacher cannot choose not to impact on character formation. An important question is the direction of that impact.
Traditional classroom structures (individual worksheet work; having students raise their hands one at a time to be called on) if not balanced by cooperative structures, have a demonstrable negative impact on character and diminish our long-term hopes for peace. In this experiential plenary session, we will examine a fifteen-virtue model of character and analyze the impact of traditional and cooperative structures on virtue acquisition. Finally we will explore how structure forms character which in turn impacts on long-term prospects for peace.
To help you build character in your classroom, and increase our long-term prospects for peace, come learn structures like Three-Step Interview, Paraphrase Passport, and Corners.
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For further information about Dr. Spencer Kagan, visit
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