Engineering English for the Growth Mindset in the Knowledge-Creating Classroom

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K00482
• Research Institution: Shizuoka University
• Principal Investigator: V WILKINSON 静岡大学, 情報学部, 名誉教授 (40240626)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Chandler Damon 立命館大学, 情報理工学部, 教授 (70765495)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: TEAM / LEADERSHIP / PRESENTATION SKILLS / ENGLISH COMPETENCE

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

At the end of our preliminary research period (2017-2019) we tentatively concluded that "teams with leaders learn English better" than groups who do not have a leader. We tested our theory in the following year's class (2020) but we had to do this with all new technology and staff definitions. We worked with ZOOM online, a 4th year TA, and Shizuoka University Logistics Technical Assistant. Professor Chandler and myself had to manage attendance records, baseline testing of English, assigning teams, and setting up weekly schedules. All of these things were much harder than before; it was a new field.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

The primary goal from the start has been to structure and deploy a sustainable PRESENTATION FORMAT for ACADEMIC ENGLISH to replace the LECTURE MODEL. Such a change would have to be attractive to FACULTY members charged with teaching this required class. However in the process, changes in staff, class size, technology, and personnel in the first two years of the Novel Corona Virus Pandemic have moved the goal-posts down the field, but we are making progress.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

We are attempting to teach English in a meaningful way to third year students, at an important point in their cognitive development, as they are entering the second to last year of the their four year program. We think TEAMS WITH LEADERS will show better personal development and mastery in English SPEAKING, PRESENTATION SKILLS, PPT SLIDE CREATION, TEAM WORK, and COMMUNICATION SKILLS than listening to a lecture and taking a test.

Causes of Carryover

A university required lecture should be professional. The intersection of American mindset and expectations with Japanese National STEM university protocol has made it important to spend significant hours outside of class. We must spend considerable time planning, class by class, evaluating and planning the next step. The class cannot be treated as standard practice, nor judged by standard protocol until it has been shown to effective and doable to Faculty members. Clearly our research is still "a work in progress."