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Instructors: Schedule & Session Descriptions

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Schedule of Events
Thursday, April 22, 2010

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Registration
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.	Welcome/Orientation
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.	Session 1: Massage School Curriculum: What’s Next?
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.	Session 2: MT Body of Knowledge Project
3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Session 3: Advanced Certification: What’s the Impact?
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Large Group Recap
5:30 p.m.	Reception and Dinner

Friday, April 23, 2010

8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Session 4: Learning Objectives: the Foundation of Curriculum
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.	Session 5: Principles and Practice of Core Learning Theories
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Session 6: Understanding Adult Learners and Choosing Instructional Methods
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Large group recap
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.	Break On Your Own
2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Optional Session: Effective Retention Strategies

Saturday, April 24, 2010

8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Session 7: Essential Classroom Management Skills
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.	Session 8: Comprehensive Orientations: Why You Should Integrate One Now
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Large Group Recap and Closing

Instructors: Session Descriptions

Session 1: Massage School Curriculum: What’s Next?
In the November/December 2009 issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine the article “Is Swedish Massage Dead?” generated a stir. Schools, professionals, and students sent letters describing their experiences, challenges, and perspective on Swedish massage and Swedish massage training. This session starts with a discussion of the role of Swedish massage in foundation curriculum and expands into the wider topic of what schools are teaching, why they choose to teach the topics they teach, and how curriculum might evolve to better prepare graduates for a career in massage therapy.

Session 2: Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge Project
The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) project is a cooperative effort of representatives from the American Massage Therapy Association, the former AMTA-Counsel of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, Massage Therapy Foundation, and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. The MTBOK Task Force will present its findings to the massage profession at the Massage Therapy Foundation “Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Research” conference in Seattle May 13-15, 2010. School Issues Forum attendees learn about the current status of the project and can ask questions of one of the BOK Task Force members during this session.

Session 3: Advanced Certification: What’s the Impact?
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork is working on Advanced Certification. According to the NCBTMB, the certification will be completely voluntary and build on the educational, experiential, and ethical requirements of national certification. Schools discuss the challenges, opportunities, and impact of advanced certification on the massage profession.

Session 4: Learning Objectives: The Foundation of Curriculum
Good learning objectives define the behaviors and knowledge that educators believe students should attain in order to progress to the next course, or achieve success in the massage profession as a graduate. They help educators determine meaningful learning experiences and organize courses or programs to provide continuity and sequence for the learner. This session explores learning objectives written from the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains and investigates the use of learning objective mapping for planning effective lessons.

Session 5: Principles and Practice of Core Learning Theories
There are a number of established learning theories that provide insights into ways that people learn and practical activities that enhance learning environments. Attendees explore learning styles, constructivism, whole-brain thinking, social cognition, and brain-based learning methods and activities.

Session 6: Understanding Adult Learners and Choosing Instructional Methods
Today’s massage classrooms are comprised of students from three generations—baby boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y—with distinct attitudes, behaviors, expectations, habits, and motivations. By understanding generational differences we can plan classroom activities that meet the needs of all adult learners and choose effective instructional methods that ensure students achieve well-defined learning objectives.

Session 7: Essential Classroom Management Skills
Today’s massage instructors must pay attention to cultural, economic, social, and spiritual differences in students while developing meaningful learning activities and managing difficult student behaviors. In this session, instructors discuss ways to organize classrooms to ensure an optimal learning environment and deal with the complexities of managing classroom issues.

Session 8: Comprehensive Orientations: Why You Should Integrate One Now!
Colleges across the country are facing many of the same challenges as massage schools. These challenges include students who are not prepared for the academic nature of post secondary education, sweeping attrition, poor interpersonal and study skills, low grades, and poor critical thinking skills. In this session attendees will review research that demonstrates the value of a comprehensive orientation and explore comprehensive orientation models.

Optional Session: Effective Retention Strategies
We all know the massage school business is more competitive then ever before. Schools invest significant money and time to attract and enroll students. Retaining those students presents some challenges for every school. This session explores tools for building persistence and resilience in massage students so that they have the life-skills they need to overcome challenges and thrive in your program.

* Presenters subject to change.