Professional Development Program
for Teachers

In this program teachers have the opportunity to experience and deepen their understanding of creative thinking and creative communication – key skills required by educators to create powerful learning experiences which incorporate self-directed, dialogue-based deep learning in partnership with local partners and communities.
 
We believe that creative thinking and creative communication require the development of 5 key capacities : expression, observation, empathy, dialogue and self-awareness. To date the EGAKU Program has reached over 20,000 participants from children to adults and has been deployed in more than 200 organizations. By combining the experience and know-how we have accumulated to date through delivering the art-based learning method EGAKU with a systems thinking approach, we help individuals develop these five capacities, whilst making most of their unique creative abilities.

The five key capacities for creative thinking and creative communication:

In many cases it’s us teachers who are the ones looking for answers. We’re the ones who think it’s difficult to teach a subject like enquiry-based learning – a subject that has no teaching manual. However, through this program I discovered that it’s possible to validate each other without judging what’s right or wrong, and that each person has their own unique, personal way in which they experience of the world. I want kids to be able to experience this for themselves.
—Teacher in charge of inquiry-based learning classes, public senior high school

After participating in the program, when I exchange ideas with other people I’ve become more conscious of keeping in mind my own ideas whilst also trying to consider other people’s values and perspectives.
—Business and commerce studies teacher, public commercial high school

I’m not a big fan of ‘art’ or ‘workshops’ but what I experienced in the program was truly self-directed and dialogue-based deep learning. I’ve seen a lot of other programs, but I think it’s rare to come across a program that is so thoughtfully designed. It helped me see art from a different perspective and discover the possibilities and fun of art.　
—Director of training, local education committee member