Faculty Friday; Meet Michiko Kobayashi, Education
Posted: November 18, 2016 | Author: Abigail Wyatt | Read Time: 2 minutes
Dr. Michiko Kobayashi is an associate professor of education at Southern Utah University. Her specializations include distance education, technology integration in the classroom, second language acquisition, and multicultural education. In addition to face-to-face instruction, she also investigates innovative course designs to maximize student learning in online classrooms.
Kobayashi first became interested in education while studying English education in Japan. She came to the United States to improve her English and broadcasted a Japanese language class in Virginia as part of a national TV program. She received an MS in linguistics and ESL from Radford University and a PhD in instructional design and technology from Virginia Tech.
Kobayashi teaches the following classes:
- EESL 4310/6310 Understanding Language Acquisition and Cognition
- EESL 4340/6340 Integrating Language Acquisition and Content Instruction
- EESL 6310 Theories for the Acquisition of a Second Language
- EDUC 3180 Instructional Technology for Teaching & Learning
- ELED 3400 Educating Diverse Populations
- EESL 4300/6300 Foundations of ESL Education
- EESL 4320/6320 Assessing ESL Learners
Kobayashi has taught at SUU since 2006. She has published many works involving the use of technology in the classroom and how to support ESL (english as a second language) children in the classroom. She has presented at many conferences including the ED-Media World Conference. Her current research focuses on the development of student's cultural consciousness using Web 2.0 technologies.
“Teaching isn’t always easy, but when I get an email or message from a former student letting me know how they’re doing I’m reminded the effort is worth it,” said Kobayashi. “Being able to see my students succeed is the reason why I love teaching.”
She enjoys instructing current and upcoming teachers on how to use technology and include culture and diversity in education. These things are becoming increasingly more important due to the continual development of new technology in the iGeneration. As technology grows it provides new ways to connect around the world that increase culture and diversity in the classroom.
Kobayashi is an animal lover and likes traveling and taking photographs. She has visited Italy, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, British Columbia, Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Poland. She enjoys eating at small local restaurants in foreign countries and experiencing new cultures.
This article was published more than 3 years ago and might contain outdated information or broken links. As a result, its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
Tags: Faculty College of Education and Human Development
