On February 25, 2015 two years of research into the implementation and development of the Saitama City Unified ES/JH Uruoi no Jikan ECAD program at one of the city’s designated Model Schools. The focus of the study was into methods of improving students’ expressive abilities. Brad Semans acted as the coordinator and lead developer of the school’s research efforts between April 2008 and March 2015.

Open Lesson

During the first part of this presentation attendees watched a lesson with second grade students. The lesson was the final part of a series of lessons in which students presented as a group. The main focus of the presentation lesson was not on the presenters, but on the audience’s role. Within the ECAD program this skill is called “Active Listening”. The concept presented was that focus on creating an atmosphere in which the presenting group leads a class discussion. The lesson succeeded in that each speaker was asked several questions by a variety of audience members.

Research Discussion

Following the lesson teachers present engaged in a discussion that centred on the school’s research theme of developing methods for improving students’ expressive abilities. There were several highlights to the discussion. The first was a discussion about how important it was for students to understand both macro and micro goals. The second was a proposal to improve instruction on Active Listening in earlier years of the program. Finally, there was consensus that the instruction given here could, and should be applied to other subjects as well.