July 2012 Akita-JALT presentation – Motivating communities of practice for teachers by Joe Falout of Nihon University

Even the most motivated teachers can at some point feel the classic symptoms of burnout. Avoiding burnout and maintaining motivation is important for professional satisfaction. This workshop focused on ways for teachers to maintain their motivation through three principles — managing emotions, joining communities, and boosting efficacy. The presenter started by having the audience complete a survey, then he went on to provide a theoretical base from social psychology, and used anecdotes to illustrate particular points. Workshop participants were asked to explore their own pathways toward increasing their sense of control, autonomy, and relatedness within their work environments and professional communities of practice by engaging in a variety of interactive pair and group activities.

Reported by Stephen Shucart, Akita-JALT Recording Secretary

Click here for photos taken by Takeshi Suzuki, Akita-JALT Publicity Chair