Reducing gender disparities in Japan is an urgent issue that requires the attention of multilevel stakeholders, including higher education institutions. Under Sustainable Development Goal 4, target 4.7 calls for educational institutions, including universities, to explore innovative approaches to tackle issues such as gender inequality. The…

This article presents the authors' critique of lessons proposed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21). The authors initiate a discussion about content that they hope will play out in schoolhouses and statehouses across the country. They take on a different task: they present a handful of lesson ideas from P21 that could enhance studies…

The course of study for students in elementary schools in Japan is outlined in this document. The first of four chapters puts forth general guidelines that a Japanese elementary school should seek to follow. Comprising the greater part of the document, the second chapter outlines the objectives to be achieved by students in eight subjects. For…

The course of study for students in lower secondary schools in Japan is outlined in this document. The first of four chapters puts forth the general provisions that Japanese lower secondary schools should seek to follow. Comprising the greater part of the volume, the second chapter outlines the objectives to be achieved by students in nine subject…

The course of study for students in upper secondary schools in Japan is outlined in this document. The first of three chapters puts forth the general provisions that a Japanese upper secondary school should seek to follow. Comprising the greater part of the volume, the second chapter outlines the objectives to be achieved in 18 subjects. For each…

This curriculum guide presents nine units for the study of world cultures in the ninth grade. The guide has been designed as one component of an ongoing comprehensive social studies program. Among the social sciences concepts which the units develop are cultural diffusion, prejudice, task specialization, urbanization, nationalism, and ethics.…

Discusses how the upper secondary science curriculum in Japan has been revised, and reasons for this revision. Describes the objectives and content of the new curriculum. (MLH)

The literature suggests that teachers may rely more often on intuition when making course planning decisions than on informed assessment of learners' needs (Barkhuizen 1998; Spratt 1999). This article proposes a more principled alternative to the intuitive approach, based on the use of teacher-designed class-specific questionnaires intended to…

This publication offers excerpts from the National Courses of Study revised by the Ministry of Education in Japan. The first section discusses curriculum for kindergarten. It states that lessons must be presented at least 39 weeks a year and the standard number of class periods per day should occupy four hours. Content is classified into four…

The following is a review of creativity courses and programs offered at universities in Europe, North America, Japan, and China. Creativity courses and programs occur in a variety of disciplines, but are found most frequently in fields such as business; education and psychology; and engineering, science, and technology. This paper provides…

The research report describes a study measuring the effects of two teaching approaches on 7th and 8th grade students' perception and achievement during a twelve day social studies unit on modern Japan. Two approaches were studied: Method A, which strives to bring about personal identification of students with American culture; and Method B, which…

Discusses the status of training courses conducted by computer manufacturers for their employees, including types of training, trainee classification, course arrangement, fees, examples of courses provided by manufacturers, trends, and future expectations. (MBR)

The collaborative curriculum development process in a postsecondary language education program in Japan is described, looking specifically at the work of five curriculum development teams, or focus groups: needs assessment; curriculum aims, goals, and objectives; cognitive development and learner strategies; materials development; and learner…

An analysis of the trend in teaching African languages as a second or foreign language (AFL2) looks at patterns in the objectives of AFL2, teachers and learners, and instructional environments. Three basic program objectives in AFL2 are distinguished: language proficiency (basic conversation); language competence (close to native skills); and…

Maintains that current efforts to reform education and social studies are cycles of media hyperbole and political hope. Contends that issues underlying various programs are really about power and control. Argues that social studies has a role in making schools and students models of democratic thought and action. (CFR)