It\u27s All in the Cards : Using Playing Cards to Lower Student Stress and Use Time Efficiently in Class

In Japan, university students arrive at their universities after spending 12 years in public education. During that time, they have been taught to be passive receptors of information rather than active seekers of it. This situation mirrors many Japanese cultural traits, which value quiet conformity and obedience. It is a persistent problem, which numerous position papers from the national Ministry of Education encouraging student autonomy and participation in their own education have failed to fully solve.Upon entering university they may encounter professors (particularly those from foreign countries) who expect a very different kind of student and teach a very different kind of class. Foreign professors often seek to teach a communicative style that relies on student participation, volunteering information, and frequent changes of partners and groups. The resulting confusion and clash of values can cause discomfort for both sides, as well as waste valuable class time.This presentation will demonstrate specific techniques which can break down the physical and psychological walls between student passivity and activity. Through the use of playing cards, many of the above problems can be solved and students are able to successfully make the transition from being taught to learning. Many teachers use cards to play various games, but few recognize their potential value as tools of classroom management which can eventually guide students in the direction of becoming autonomous learners