“Nurturing the Active Learners and the Effects of Assessment on High Quality Learning”.

The National Institute of Education (Motivation in Educational Research Lab, MERL, and Graduate Programmes and Research Office) and the Asia-Pacific Educational Research Association, APERA, are  jointly organizing a seminar on Motivation on 19 January 2010. 

We are very honoured to have Professors Edward Deci and Richard Ryan as our guests speakers. They are the proponents of the Self-Determination Theory, and are highly regarded in the field of Motivation. It’s extremely difficult to get both of them so it’s an opportunity not to be missed.

Details of the seminars are as follows:

 “Nurturing the Active Learners and the Effects of Assessment on High Quality Learning”.

Session 1: Effects of External Factors on Motivation and their Implications for Education and Testing
Presented by Professor Edward Deci

The presentation will review research focused on how to maintain and enhance intrinsic motivation and will specifically address the effects of educational tests on student motivation. Tests can serve an important informational function, and they can also serve a controlling function. Depending on which is more salient, the tests will either promote or impair high quality learning.

Session 2: Nurturing the Active Learner: Classroom Practices Associated with Student Motivation, Well-being and Performances
Presented by Professor Richard Ryan

In this talk Prof Ryan will discuss the impact of teaching styles on student engagement and performance. He will address how teachers’ support for students’ feelings of autonomy, competence and relatedness in the classroom can enhance intrinsic motivation and internalization of values for school, a result found across developmental levels and cultural contexts. More importantly he will discuss the barriers to teachers’ ability to support students’ psychological needs, and the institutional supports needed by teachers to develop high quality learning environments.

Date:          19 January 2010 (Tuesday)

Time:          2:30pm to 5:30pm

Venue:       Lecture Theatre 1, Block 6, Level 1 (NIE 6-01-LT1), NIE Main Campus

Course Fees:       All participants – S$60 (inclusive of 7% GST)

Closing date for applications:  19 December 2009

Please RSVP by filling out the application form and return by either:

Fax:           (+65) 6896 9446 OR

Email:         inservice@nie.edu.sg OR

Mail to:       Teacher Professional Development,

Graduate Programmes and Research Office

Science Block 7 Level 3

National Institute of Education

1 Nanyang Walk

Singapore 637616

Please call Ms Joey Kok at +65 67903787  or email at suyan.kok@nie.edu.sg for any queries on course administration. We can only accomodate 300+ participants on a first come first serve basis.