Complex Dynamic Systems Theory—Learning-Centered Teaching

635 Commonwealth Avenue,Boston MA 02215

26 October, 2021

Description

Join us for an upcoming talk with Dr. Diane Larsen-Freeman, part of our Language Education Speaker Series. Language Education Speaker SeriesThe BU Wheelock Language Education Speakers Series brings well-known scholars in the field of applied linguistics to campus to discuss their work. These talks are open to all members of the BU community, as well as scholars and students of applied linguistics throughout the Greater Boston area. Complex Dynamic Systems Theory—Learning-Centered Teaching, with Dr. Diane Larsen-FreemanDr. Diane Larsen-Freeman, Professor Emerita of Education and of Linguistics, Research Scientist Emerita, and former Director of the English Language Institute at the University of Michigan With complex dynamic systems theory’s process ontology, systems orientation, emergence, and nonlinearity, CDST has proven to be a powerful way to conceive of language. This power has been extended to language learners, language learning, and language teaching, and it is attracting more and more interest these days. This talk moves beyond the conceptual to the implications for learners, learning, and learning-centered teaching. If one sees learners as having more agency in the learning process, then it follows that teachers would enact their practice in complementary fashion, seeing teaching not as providing comprehensible input, but rather as providing enabling conditions in tune with the interests of individuals in the class. This entails managing second order affordances, more improvisational than scripted. It also calls for teaching learners how to adapt their language resources to changing situations. Finally, it sees teaching as congressive and relational. It encourages teachers to act as a mediators between their students and the environment and to engage students in meaningful and iterative activities, designed to focus on the learning challenge. Learn more and view Dr. Larsen-Freeman's bio here.