How are you? Our 3rd presentation topic for the year, and first for the fall semester, will be about comparing and contrasting similarities and differences in educational systems between Japan and another country.
Before we begin, here are the board notes for our class from two weeks ago on 10/15:
Now let's look at the theme and task!
Before we begin, here are the board notes for our class from two weeks ago on 10/15:
Theme/task
Choose any country to compare and contrast with Japan to make a two-sided argument about the advantages and disadvantages of education between Japan and another country, with an encouraged focus on science education.
While I showed you the videos on the blogpost about education in Finland, India, and South Korea, you should find other videos and/or readings on educational systems in other countries for your comparison and contrast.
While I showed you the videos on the blogpost about education in Finland, India, and South Korea, you should find other videos and/or readings on educational systems in other countries for your comparison and contrast.
You can choose any level of education as your point of comparison and contrast –elementary, junior high school, high school, or university. (Please remember to compare and contrast the same levels of education – for example, advantages or disadvantages of elementary school in Japan with elementary school in Germany, or advantages or disadvantages of high school in Japan with high school in Russia, and so on).
I encourage you to focus on science education, though you can focus on other areas of education if you wish. A focus on science education, however, may be more interesting for you. How does the quality of science education in Japan (or in your own country if you are not from Japan) compare with the quality of science education in another country? What would arguments for the strength of science education in Japan (or your country) be versus any strengths of science education in another country? Where might Japan be strong – and not so strong – in different areas of science education?
I encourage you to focus on science education, though you can focus on other areas of education if you wish. A focus on science education, however, may be more interesting for you. How does the quality of science education in Japan (or in your own country if you are not from Japan) compare with the quality of science education in another country? What would arguments for the strength of science education in Japan (or your country) be versus any strengths of science education in another country? Where might Japan be strong – and not so strong – in different areas of science education?
Deadline (締め切り)
We will do these on November 12th (11/12), so you have two (2) weeks to prepare these. Aim to make a presentation of around 4-5 minutes, including a Q&A from others you will present to.
Guidelines
1. Prepare a summary (要約) about what you will present on. The summary should be ready for review next week on November 5th (11/5).
*I would like you to refresh yourselves on what a good summary should include. Go to this link from earlier this year for a review of what should go into a summary.
The link is a post about summaries and outlines - for now, only look at the part about summaries! I hope this can help you in your summary writing.
*I would like you to refresh yourselves on what a good summary should include. Go to this link from earlier this year for a review of what should go into a summary.
The link is a post about summaries and outlines - for now, only look at the part about summaries! I hope this can help you in your summary writing.
2. Be ready for me to review your progress next week (11/5) and for you to practice your presentation in-class. You can practice with me and/or other students.
3. Finalize your presentation outside of class and be ready to present on 11/12!
3. Finalize your presentation outside of class and be ready to present on 11/12!
Image: By Anna Frodesiak - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19067711
