Studies investigating the use of mobile technologies when other options are available are still relatively rare in the literature, with the majority of studies requiring that learners use a particular technology, either using their own devices or devices provided by the institution. One exception to this was a study by Stockwell (2010) that…

This study examined how types of tasks influenced student activities/thinking and defined the role of Seatwork in mathematics lessons. It used 60 lessons from the TIMSS videotaped Study. These data indicated that practice was the most prevalent form of tasks in the U.S. In Germany, students completed mathematical calculations after a complex…

This study explores educators' reflections on professional childcare practice in different national contexts. The data were collected by showing video clips of classroom activities in Japanese, Dutch and German pre-schools to experienced German and Dutch pre-school teachers. The clips were used to elicit their opinions on playing and learning in…

Using diary excerpts from a teacher's trip to Japan in the summer of 1985, this article provides four lesson plans for involving elementary through high school students in the study of cultural values, critical thinking skills, leadership, and international understanding. (JDH)

An activity book is designed to address problems and oversights in classroom coverage of Japan discovered by the Japan/United States Textbook Study Project. Activities which focus on Japanese religion, language, and geography address two important questions: what immediate application does the textbook study have for classroom teachers and how can…

The nine chapters of this theme issue show how, in diverse cultural settings, cooperative learning methods enhance learning and reduce frictions among learners. A second goal of these papers is to indicate how cooperative learning fits or doesn't fit in several societies. (SLD)

Four lessons in this inquiry unit introduce junior high students to the influence of geography on economics and way of life in Japan. Lessons are provided on the effects of overcrowding, the influence of space on Japanese farming, a Japanese product search, and Japanese cuisine. Each lesson includes time and materials required, rationale,…

A collection of activities and teaching strategies provides a global approach to teaching about Japan at the elementary school level. Following a preface, material is divided into three main sections. The first section outlines interdisciplinary skill goals and attitudinal skill goals of global learning experiences. The second section, "For…

A collection of five activities for teaching about Japan at the elementary level is provided. An introductory activity is designed to elicit student perceptions of the Japanese through drawings and words. A second activity uses Japanese folk tales. The remaining three activities are presented by grade level (1-3) and provide strategies for…

This document presents two resource units for studying the cultural diversity and unity of several countries. The unit was developed as part of a series by the Public Education Religion Studies Center. The resource units serve the religious components of broader cultural studies of the USSR and Japan. Three statements of rationale underlie the…

Designed for grades 4-6, this teaching unit explores children's rights from a comparative perspective by focusing on the rights of Japanese children as revealed in a collection of stories written by Japanese junior high school students. The unit outlines a series of lessons that explore the nature of children's rights and inquire about the extent…

The activities in this book focus on teaching about Japan within the context of larger social science units. Several of the lessons can be taught within the context of the humanities and fine arts. The book's 18 classroom activities are organized into three sections. Section 1, "Society and Culture," contains four activities in which…

A compilation of lessons on Japanese history and cultural and contemporary issues is divided into sections for middle schools and high schools. A total of four lessons and a board game are contained in section one, lessons for middle schools. Lessons focus on Japanese schools; Japanese houses, past and present; and economic interdependence.…

Presents an account of the project approach used by American first graders to study Japan. (BB)

This activity book is designed to present information and insights on Japanese culture and society. Because few teachers can devote entire units to the study of Japan, the activities focus on teaching about Japan within the context of larger social science units. Some of the lessons can be taught within the context of the humanities and fine arts,…