Tech-Day+2014 mini-conference, Sun, Oct 5 at Otemae University, Itami campus

TechDay+2014 

at Otemae University (Itami campus)

Sunday, Oct 5, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

co-sponsored by Osaka JALT & Kobe JALT

Download schedule here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4la5um6jlllo65z/Tech%20Day%20Plus%202014%20%20Schedule.pdf?dl=0

Tech Day Plus is one of our best-loved events of the year. Our goal is to share ideas on a wide range of topics, both tech-related and non-tech alike. Our "Tech" presentations are in fully equipped computer labs, while our non-tech "Plus" presentations are in regular classrooms.

This year's event will again be at Otemae University's Itami campus, which is just 75 meters from Inano station on the Hankyu line or 5 minutes walk from JR Inadera station on the Takarazuka line.

Plenary by Charles Browne of Meiji Gakuin University

A New General Service List:

Words and Online Tools for EFL Success

The New General Service List (NGSL) is a list of core vocabulary words for EFL learners and is a major update of West's (1953) GSL. Based on a carefully selected 273 million word sample from the Cambridge English corpus, the 2800+ words of the NGSL offer an amazing 92% coverage of most texts of general English.  This presentation will give a brief background on the list and project before moving on to introducing a large and growing number of free online resources that are available to help you teach, learn, analyse or create teaching materials based on the NGSL. One of the underlying messages of this presentation is the need for applied research to utilize and take advantage of online resources in order to help teachers, researchers and learners to benefit from that research.

Charles Browne is Professor of Applied Linguistics & TESOL, Director of the EFL Teacher-Training Program at Meiji Gakuin University. He is a specialist in Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition and Extensive Reading, especially as they apply to online learning environments, and has written dozens of research articles, books, and textbooks over his 29 years in Japan. In addition to his recent work in creating two important new corpus-based word lists for second language learners known as the New General Service List (NGSL) and the New Academic Word List (NAWL), he has also helped to create a wide variety of research-based language learning and analysis software such as the OGTE (Online Graded Text Editor), ER-Central, EnglishCentral, WordEngine, V-Check, and GoFluent, and works hard to share this knowledge with teachers, researchers and software developers through countless presentations, seminars and hand-on workshops. 

Thanks to Cambridge University Press for sponsoring Dr. Browne's transportation costs!
http://www.cambridgejapan.org/

Additional presentations:

Shirley Ando & Noriko Mori of Otemae University, "A Short-term English Service Learning Program with Long-term Effects" 

David Bramley of Osaka Jogakuin University, "Student Reactions to eBooks and iPads"

Harry Carley of Matsuyama University, "CALLing on Japan and the World," "YouTube & You: Video Production Explained," & "Wikis Revisited: A Single Software Tool for a Variety of Courses" 

Gordon Carlson, Robert Sheridan, & John Jackson of Otemae University, "The Benefits of Conducting Leadership Camps"

Matthew Cook of the Osaka Prefectural Board of Education, "Apple's iPad, iCloud, Airplay, iOS/OSX in the Classroom"

Neil Cowie of Okayama University & Keiko Sakui of Kobe Shoin Women's University, "Four-part framework of approaches to e-learning for language teachers"

Lisa Cross, a JET Alum based in Kyoto, "Resume Building"

Paul Daniels of Kochi University of Technology, "Using Google's Speech API for language instruction"

Mark Donnellan of Kwansei Gakuin University, "Voice recording in Moodle"

Paul Evans of Kyoto, "Achieving Active Listening With Large Classes: Low Tech/ High Payoff"

Sean Gay of Ritsumeikan University and Michael Iwane-Salovaara of St. Andrews University, "Excelling with Excel"

Charlotte Lin of Kanda University of International Studies, "iPad Blogging in University English Writing Classes"

Rachel Manley of Kanda University of International Studies, "Using Edmodo to Communicate with Students"

James Rogers of Kansai Gaidai University, "Advanced flashcard program design: Beyond spaced repetition and traditional Leitner algorithms"

Oliver Rose of Kwansei Gakuin University, "Phrase Maze Online/Mobile Game"

Jacob Schnickel of Jissen Women's University in Tokyo, "Metaphors for Describing Projects: Guidelines & Caveats"

Frances Shiobara of Kobe Shoin Women's University & Mark Donnellan of Kwansei Gakuin University, "Raz-kidsOnline Extensive Reading"

Rodney Smith, Osaka public schools, "Circle Work: Encouraging speaking & cooperative learning through competition"

Ryan Smithers of Bukkyo University, "Computer Applications for CALL Learner Training"

Anthony Torbert of Kobe Gakuin University, "Successfully using video files such as YouTube in class and presentations"

Yoshihiko Yamamoto of Ritsumeikan University, "Teaching learners of English who are different proficiency levels in one class"

There will also be publisher displays by Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and Pearson.

5:00 - 7:00 pm: dinner party at a nearby restaurant

Photos and details of past years' Tech Day Plus events can be found at http://tdp.osakajalt.org/ .

Location: 

Otemae University - Itami campus, very near Hankyu Inano and JR Inadera stations

Link to meeting location: http://www.otemae.ac.jp/english/university/location/index.html

Cost:

JALT members: 

1000 yen (500 yen for K-12 teachers and those 65+, free for students)

One-day members: 

2,000 yen (1,000 yen for K-12 teachers and those 65+, 500 yen for students)

Please help spread the word!
Click on the poster below to download & print out via Dropbox, and post up at your schools. Thanks!