Noriko's Page

Hello, my name is Noriko Fujioka-Ito. I was born and grew up in Japan. Now I live in Kentucky and work in Ohio. My hobbies are playing the piano, painting, and reading books.

I currently teach and coordinate undergraduate courses in the Japanese Language and Culture Program and International Co-op Program at the University of Cincinnati.

By teaching at various educational levels, I’ve come to the belief that knowledge should be constructed multi-dimensionally through active learning experiences. Although there are some common factors that could be theorized on the basis of elements collected from individual learning processes and outcomes, it is important that each learner has constructive learning experiences exploring challenging problems based on topics related to learners’ personal concerns and interests. Project-Based Language Learning (PBLL) is an integrative approach that enables learners to develop skills while solving driving questions and working collaboratively with people in the target culture; therefore, it is ideal for foreign language learners at the all levels.

Last year, I could not attend the PBLL Intensive Summer Institute (ISI) due to a family member’s illness. This year, I am looking forward to participating in the ISI very much and meeting with you in Hawaii.