We Are Tomodachi Autumn 2017

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11and teaching methods, to provide a better hands-on model and encourage efforts for even better instruction. This approach is praised overseas as an activity to improve teacher self-education.“In countries other than Japan, the Japanese method of teachers observing one another’s classes is often misunderstood as skill assessment. Japanese-style education involves having teachers compete with one another, strive to improve lesson study, and train children to think on their feet. This was especially important when CRICED was founded. Overseas schools that have adopted this education system provide an innovative teaching experience where mutual learning and successive fine tuning of lesson study have led to dramatic improvements in student achievements,” says Isoda. Since 2006, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), an organization working for economic development, has launched research projects on Japanese-style education with the aim of raising the quality of education. Serving as a prime mover in this project, CRICED organizes a 21-economy lesson study network in its efforts to promote lesson study.Japanese textbooks have caught the eyes of educators around the world as the result of lesson study. Especially, arithmetic and mathematics textbooks are designed to teach students mathematical concepts by having them think on their own and discuss with one another.“In the past 15 years, we have worked to share Japanese-style education through the universal language of mathematics. CRICED currently works in partnership with associates all over the world. Through these associates we deploy lesson study, provide an innovative teaching experience and encourage efforts for even better instruction in various countries and regions. We would now like to widen this sphere to include other subjects. It is our intention to make use of Japanese-style teacher-training systems and other useful expertise,” explains Isoda.In addition to such efforts, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology began its “EDU-Port Nippon” initiative in April 2016. The project coordinates expanding Japanese-style education overseas with public-private partnerships, works to expand musical and physical education, and explores the academic uses of ICT devices. The Japanese government plans to further increase its international contribution in the field of education in the future. The 11th workshop class held at Khon Kaen University. Over 2,000 teachers gathered from throughout Thailand to participate in the event and observe classes being conducted onstage.Japanese-style mathematics textbooks are translated to the English, Thai and Spanish languages. The problem solving process is presented with a variety of examples and repeated for easy learning. Pictured here is the English version (Gakko Tosho Co., Ltd.).Example of counting. Students talk with one another and come up ideas for how to easily solve the problem by rearranging the stars as a visual aid.Striving to improve the quality of education, teachers conduct research during daily classes by repeatedly researching instructional materials, holding classes, and reflecting on their instruction.The lesson study (jugyo kenkyu) processDr. Masami IsodaDirector of the University of Tsukuba’s Center for Research on International Cooperation in Educational Development (CRICED). Professor of the Faculty of Human Sciences. PhD in Education. Representative of the APEC lesson study project since 2006.Can you see 4x3? Ex.Ex.There is more than one way to find the answer.DemonstrationclassDiscussionPreparing the class