In this LD SIG forum, presenters will look at who the LD SIG is as a special interest group. What does learner development mean to SIG members? What experiences have members valued? What research have members embarked on? Where is the SIG going? How is the LD SIG interpretation of learner development evolving? The forum will feature timed rounds of interactive narratives highlighting themes such as self-regulation, autonomy, learner identities, and lifelong learning.

The Materials Writers SIG will host a panel discussion featuring educators who have made the shift into the self-publishing business. The writers have produced numerous textbooks, readers, and manga. The discussion will cover a wide range of topics including: creative benefits, financial risks, logistical challenges, ISBN, printing costs, digital media, marketing, distribution and sales. The panelists will share their self-publication stories. There will be an open Q&A session.

This AGM of the Materials Writers SIG will cover the following: reports from the MW-SIG Coordinator, Membership Chair, Treasurer, Program Chair, Publications Chair, and Members-at-Large. Officers will lay out plans for the upcoming year, including publication themes and deadlines, PanSIG, JALT International, and other programs. Contributions and ideas from all MW-SIG members are highly encouraged. New members are welcome!

The forum, divided into three parts, will first showcase the Listening SIG. This will include outlining our communication, events, and publication initiatives. The second part will consist of a guest speaker presenting recent research conducted in the area of listening. The third part will be convened as an annual general meeting and then a panel discussion for both SIG members and guests to share their own experiences and accounts of research developments.

The brain’s natural tendencies to seek patterns, form emotions, make stories, predict, and obsess on the social world are closely connected to learning. The presenters will invite you to share ideas for using these powerful learning tools. Then, our panel of experts will reveal the reason why our brains have these tendencies—a highly active network in the brain that used to be thought of as just daydreaming! Join the panel in learning collaboratively.

In this SA SIG Forum, presenters will share new perspectives they are practicing, which includes dealing with the ongoing pandemic. Stephen M. Ryan will offer a perspective on the encounter with difference from a brain science. Saul Takahashi and Richard Miller will share a potential model of web based international programmes. Masaki Seo will share the possibilities of challenges of e-tandem learning project. More detailed abstracts of each presentation can be found at SA SIG website (https://www.sa-sig.org/).