“The 6th Explorative Learning Study Group” was held to inform to people outside of the school about Tamagawa Gakuen’s educational activities, which is based on its philosophy of “Education of the Whole Person”.
The theme of this workshop was “Systematization of Learning Skill Development in K-12 Education”. Tamagawa Gakuen’s explorative learning activities were reported to more than 150 people, teachers and other visitors. The base of the report was “learning ctechniques”, which is based on the curriculum for kindergarden to middle school that cultivates thinking and performing skills.
The outcomes of SGH were introduced in a poster session by students. They presented three activities, “Global Studies”, “African Studies” and “European Studies”.
Six students working on “Global Studies” introduced the results of their research, and students who visited South Africa and Botswana on the “African Studies” program reported what they learned on the trip with photographs to illustrate this. The students who participated in “European Studies” gave a revised research presentation on international issues which was previously presented to local students before.
Students clearly conveyed the contents of their studies to people who gathered in front of the panels, by showing the presentation materials and answering questions from the listeners. There were more students than last year who who gave presentations in English showing the determination they had developed during the programs.
The enthusiasm of the students was also transmitted to visitors and more and more questions were asked; “Why did such conflicts come out?” “Do you think that there will be no racial discrimination in the future?” “Do you have any ideas to improve fair trade markets? “
Even if they did not know the answer, students thought about the answers by themselves and respond in their own words. Each time they gave their presentation, they noticed ways to improveme new points they could build upon and they were able to deepen their insights into their research theme.
In the afternoon, a keynote speech by Ms. Yumiko Kasai, a professor at Tsurumi University Faculty of Literature, who is studying about information behavior and information literacy of children, was given. It was a practical report on “techniques of learning”. More than 100 people with educational backgrounds gathered at the venue.
“Children’s questions about learning tequniques are very interesting. It is important to reach for questions when you are learning something new.”She said. Ms. Kasai’s lecture theme was “Genealogy of explorative learning: How Tamagawa Gakuen’s “Learning techniques” were born and what will happen from now. ”
“The library is an environment and a facility that supports explorative learning, and it has a very important role.”
She talked about the characteristics of explorative learning and the problem with it and the role of the library when working on it in Japan.
In the following practical report, three teachers who practiced “learning techniques” at Tamagawa Gakuen introduced their specific curriculum and activities while explaining the background and learning effect of the lesson.
A lot of questions came up from participants who were listening eagerly while taking notes. It was a place to show the growing interest in these efforts.
The philosophy of Tamagawa Gakuen’s “Education of the Whole Person”was explained to the participants at this study session. Tamagawa conveyed the significance of supporting the willingness of the students who are going to inherit to the world inthe future. Learning is the cornerstone to build on for that future.
