{"688560":{"#nid":"688560","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Learning Systems in Action: Partnering Across the Institute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBy Melissa Aberle-Grasse\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new collaboration between the College of Lifetime Learning and the School of Modern Languages (SML) offers more than a new course. It provides a practical example of how learning science expertise can be applied across Georgia Tech \u2014 strengthening pathways, expanding impact, and advancing integrated learning systems across the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe partnership began when Dr. Kyoko Masuda, professor of Japanese and Linguistics in SML, recognized growing student interest in teaching as either a short-term overseas opportunity or a long-term career path. While SML offered coursework in linguistics, it did not provide structured preparation or supervised experience in teaching practice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Japanese word for education is \u003Cem\u003Ekyooku\u003C\/em\u003E (\u304d\u3087\u3046\u3044\u304f), which means \u2018teach\u2019 and \u2018grow,\u2019\u201d she explains. \u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed teaching Japanese because I can witness my students grow!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn addition, there has been a growing recognition across higher education of the importance of peer learning, mentoring, and experiential learning opportunities,\u201d Masuda said. \u201cWe envisioned a course to help students gain a deeper understanding of the learning process itself, which aligns closely with broader workforce needs such as communication, collaboration, and leadership.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERather than seeking external partners, Masuda connected with colleagues in the College of Lifetime Learning, whose language programs and applied linguistics faculty offered an ideal practicum setting. The resulting course \u2014 ML 4505\/8803\/LING 3813\/8803 Foreign Language Teaching: Theory and Practice \u2014 integrates two credit hours of lecture with one credit hour of supervised practicum. Students complete 20\u201325 hours of classroom observation, tutoring, and language exchange activities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy combining theory with applied observation and reflection, the course connects academic insight with real learning environments \u2014 a hallmark of effective learning system design.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAutumn Lowe (MS-ALIS, Japanese) described the experience this way: \u201cCurrently, I\u2019m just exploring the possibility of teaching language as a career. I hope that this course will help me really evaluate my thoughts\u2026from a more holistic perspective. [Also] how to communicate and be flexible in how you share information are useful skills, I believe, in any career path.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe collaboration is already yielding insights into how shared vision, trust, and structured feedback can translate student need into durable academic infrastructure. Ongoing learner and teacher feedback may inform future courses, research initiatives, and additional cross-college partnerships \u2014 strengthening Georgia Tech\u2019s capacity to design and continuously improve learning systems across disciplines and career stages.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new partnership between our College and the School of Modern Languages demonstrates how learning science can be applied across Georgia Tech. By integrating teaching theory with supervised practice, the collaboration not only responds to student interest but also models how cross-college design can strengthen learning systems across the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new partnership between our College and the School of Modern Languages demonstrates how learning science can be applied across Georgia Tech."}],"uid":"33969","created_gmt":"2026-02-26 22:15:43","changed_gmt":"2026-02-26 22:18:45","author":"ymrv3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679468":{"id":"679468","type":"image","title":"LanguageInst-Students.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1772144161","gmt_created":"2026-02-26 22:16:01","changed":"1772144161","gmt_changed":"2026-02-26 22:16:01","alt":"People sit in small groups in a classroom, talking and taking notes at individual desks with notebooks, handouts, and drinks scattered across their workspaces.","file":{"fid":"263633","name":"LanguageInst-Students.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/26\/LanguageInst-Students.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/26\/LanguageInst-Students.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1357490,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/26\/LanguageInst-Students.jpeg?itok=QjMJRMAD"}}},"media_ids":["679468"],"groups":[{"id":"660375","name":"Lifetime Learning"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193940","name":"college of lifetime learning"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}