English message after Japanese
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Vital Japan 第55回勉強会： 2008年2月23日（土） 6:30pm-【飯田橋】
◆Topic:「思考の技術：逆転の発想で勝利する」
"Flip IT: An Othello Outlook to Life"
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◆日時：2008年2月23日（土） 6:30-9:00pm (開場 6:00pm) 終了後、懇親会

◆会場：東京都しごとセンター ５階 第二セミナー室
千代田区飯田橋 3-10-3 Tel 03-5211-2310

◆交通：飯田橋駅より徒歩7分、九段下駅より徒歩8分
　　　　　地図：http://www.tokyoshigoto.jp/traffic.php

◆参加費：1000円（今回から1000円となりました。）

◆参加申込：次のフォームからお申込みください。(定員 50名）
http://vitaljapan.com/clipmail2/event.htm
（確実に参加する意思のある方のみお申込お願いします。）

◆勉強会の流れ
Networking time (6:00〜6:30pm)
スピーカーによるプレゼンテーション（英語）

◆Topic:「思考の技術：逆転の発想で勝利する」
"Flip IT: An Othello Outlook to Life"

◆Speaker: Mr.Mike Kato, Learning Consultant

In life, what seems difficult at times may change suddenly for reasons
that appear small and relatively meaningless. Sometimes it is merely
a matter of viewing things from a different perspective.

This can true whether the difficult task is personal, communcal, or social.
The famous myth of the “100th Monkey Effect” is one supposed
phenomenon in which a learned behavior instantaneously spreads to the
remainder of a population once a critical mass of that population has
heard of the new idea or learned the new ability. Although this effect
is a false claim, it is nonetheless symbolic of the observation that
some things can and do change rapidly and beyond reasonable expectations or
explanation.

Often, in writing and speaking, what seems impossible and meaningless
at first suddenly clicks in a few places, and becomes sensible and
meaningful. This, to me, feels much like an experience when playing
Othello, when a few seemingly meaningless plays suddenly flip a whole
section of the board ? voila! A mostly white board instantaneously
becomes primarily black!

Ranging from the anecdotal to some fully drawn examples, the presentation
will review and allow participants to experience situations where
disparate and disconnected activites suddenly shed light on a common
observation or goal. Some of the examples covered involve a project
putting together art, English, PCs, and international cooperation and
understanding; mobile phones and game devices in schools; and teaching
English through competitive card games.

If these examples seem senseless and even potentially disastrous,
then be prepared to be Flipped!

▼About Mike Kato
Mike is an independent Learning Consultant specializing in the use of
technology to enhance and support learning. Starting originally as a
teacher, Mike has worked in publishing, PC and Web-based learning
systems, offline and online contents development, and other projects.
His mission is to provide [Education + ICT] solutions that enable people
globally (but focusing primarily in the Pacific Rim) - to mitigate and
cope with the region's greatest 21st Century hazards and challenges:
declining birthrates, graying society, global warming and environmental
degradation, addiction to petrochemicals and overconsumption of energy,
and internationalization/globalization. Mike loves the challenge of
living humankind's last great opportunity to retreat from a frightening
future through intelligent, peaceful, and fair education.

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in English
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Vital Japan 55th Meeting

*Time: Saturday, February 23, 2007
6:30-9:00pm (Door open 6:00pm)

6:00-6:30pm Networking time
6:30-9:00pm Meeting (in English)
Nijikai to follow

*Place: Seminar Room #2, 5th Floor, Tokyo Shigoto Center
3-10-3 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Tel 03-5211-2310

Map: http://www.shigotozaidan.jp/map.html

*Access.
7 mininute walk from Iidabashi Station
8 mininute walk from Subway Kudanshita Station

*Fee: JY1000
*Sign Up:
http://vitaljapan.com/clipmail2/event.htm

*Meeting Flow:
Networking time (until 6:30pm)
Presentation by the speaker (in English)
Nijikai at an izakaya

*Topic: "Flip IT: An Othello Outlook to Life"

*Speaker: Mr.Mike Kato, Learning Consultant

Please see above for the meeting details.