Pre-conference Workshop 1 Date and Time: 18 Nov, 9 – 12 pm Venue: TBC Cost: Free for conference participants Title: Nurturing Well-being through Drama Facilitator: Singapore Repertory Theatre Profile: https://www.srt.com.sg/ This workshop explores how drama-based techniques can enhance well-being and facilitate mental health by fostering emotional resilience, self-expression, and social connection. Through experiential exercises, participants will engage in movement, improvisation, and reflective role-play to explore the link between embodied learning and holistic development. The workshop also discusses practical applications for integrating drama into educational settings such as classrooms, equipping attendees with creative tools to support children and youth in developing confidence, self-regulation, and emotional awareness. |
Pre-conference Workshop 2 Date and Time: 18 Nov, 9 – 12 pm Venue: TBC Cost: Free for conference participants Title: An Introduction to R and RStudio for Educational Researchers Facilitator: Dr. Jorge Sinval Profile: https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/entities/person/Sinval This workshop tailored specifically for educational researchers offers an applied introduction to R, a powerful open-source programming language for statistical computing, using RStudio as the integrated development environment. Using real data from international large-scale assessments such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS, participants will learn how to use R and RStudio for essential data analysis tasks. The session will begin with an overview of R's syntax and environment, and RStudio's interface, followed by hands-on exercises in computing descriptive statistics. We will then cover classical hypothesis tests for group comparisons, including both parametric (e.g., t-tests, ANOVA) and non-parametric methods (e.g., Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis), addressing analyses for both independent and paired samples. Finally, the workshop will introduce generalized linear models, focusing on linear regression as a foundational modeling tool. No prior experience with R or RStudio is required. This session is ideal for researchers seeking to build or strengthen their quantitative analysis skills using reproducible and transparent methods. Participants can install R and RStudio for free here before the workshop commences. |
Pre-conference Workshop 3 Date and Time: 18 Nov, 9 – 12 pm Title: Motivation and Well-Being among School Leaders and Teachers This workshop offers a practical introduction to motivation and well-being in educational contexts, with a particular focus on the experiences of school principals and teachers. Drawing on a growing body of research from our MindsHub team, we will explore how key motivational concepts-particularly from Self-Determination Theory (SDT)-can help us understand and support leaders and educators in their roles. We will begin by discussing key concepts related to educator well-being, including job demands and resources, work engagement, and burnout. Participants will be introduced to core ideas from SDT, including the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the workplace. We will also present some key ideas from our Finnish Principal and Teacher Barometer projects. We will offer insights into the perspectives of Finnish school leaders on topics including their professional goals, social support, and autonomy in the school system. We will share and brainstorm ideas on which strategies school leaders and teachers use to cope with stress in their roles. Designed for an audience of educators and educational researchers, the session includes time for small-group reflection and discussion to consider how motivational and well-being concepts apply in everyday school settings. |