GHOU and the curriculum in Japan

Matsumoto Naoki (Keio Senior High School)Handa Toshihiro (Institute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo)　

Hata Koji (Okayama Shoka University High School)

The national curriculum guidelines of science of Japan

Many problems in it !!

Japanese Educational System

Fast of all 6 years of elementary school and 3 years of junior high school. (compulsory education)

Usually students go on to high school for 3 years. Some also go on to university for 4 years. Moreover, there is proceeded person to the graduate s

chool. (Student of researcher wish)

10.2%

40.4%

97.6%

100%

0 20 40 60 80 100

University→ GraduateSchool

HighSchool→ University

J uniorHighSchool→ HighSchool

ElementarySchool →J uniorHighSchool

The ratio of students

The ratio of students

In Elementary School

For 10 years old children Motion of Moon and star Brightness and color difference of stars

“Motion" is described. But, there is not "Why".

“Difference of Color and Brightness " is described. But, there is not "Why".

Problem of teachers: Lack of fundamental knowledge on astronomy.

For example!

FURTHERMORE

Though the child who likes astronomy is good・・・

There is a teacher who executed　 homework of observing the motion of Moon for 3 hours at the time of the Third Quarter Moon .

Good children are sleeping ・ ・・

Text book is First Quarter Moon .

In Junior High School

For 15 years old children Sidereal motion of the sky Rotation of Earth around Sun Spin of Earth Stars and Planets :two categories of celestial bodies

(Nothing more!)

A poor image of the universe !

Astronomy is written the very end of topics.

17th center astronomy !!

In High School Science classes in high school divided by 4 categories.

physics , chemistry , biology , earth science

Only few schools have an earth science class actually.

Even these schools teachers give a story only a part of it.

Very few students can learn about astronomy in Japanese high schools.

Big practical problem

At many high schools lectures are strongly focused to entrance exam of Univ. too time efficient lessons only aimed to exam.

No experiments, no observations.

Question! What category is astronomy?

Problem of university entrance exam system!

There is “the university entrance examination given by the National Center” in Japan.

(Central entrance exam)

All members should almost take an examination of "Central entrance exam".

The person with low point cannot take an examination of the university of hope.

The point of this examination is used a basic point, and there is the second examination.

Even the examinee of the science course only has to choose 2 fields of science.

(physics , chemistry , biology , earth science)

Many of Japanese examinee choose Biology and Chemistry.

Kind of textbook and astronomy 1(high school science)

RIKAKISO (Basic science) Search for the universe and the earth

The Ptolemaic system and The Copernican system • (History of astronomy)

RIKASOGO 　 B (Integrated science B) Natural history of the earth

Earth as a planet

Kind of textbook and astronomy 2(high school science)

CHIGAKU (earth science )Ⅰ Ⅰ Structure of the universe

Surface and activity of Sun Property and evolution of stars Structure of our galaxy and the universe

Example of advanced textbook

Motion of Jupiter’s moons

(This textbook is written by Agata.)

HOU story!?Jupiter Project!?

CHIGAKU (earth science )Ⅱ Ⅱ Astronomical observations

Radiation from astronomical objects Various astronomical observations

The Immense universe Distance to astronomical objects Size and mass of astronomical objects Structure of the universe

Kind of textbook and astronomy 3(high school science)

Modern astronomy :based on modern physics

PhysicsⅠ ・Ⅱ Spectrum Electromagnetic wave The law of gravitation The theory of elementary particles

Only just a little Doppler effect

So, many students misunderstand that Doppler effect should be applied only for sound!

Therefore, many topics in physics lessons are strongly connected to astronomy.

Reorganize the curriculum by ourselves!

The biggest problem in Japanese National Curriculum.

No systematic story in science courses!

If Earth science is untried,

it only has to teach astronomy in physics.

&

（ Jyoho is a doubtful IT class made recently ・・・）

There is a teacher who is teaching astronomy in the class (Jyoho) that uses the computer.

Then, physics is easy to understand too.

How is astronomy approached at little time?

HOU Curriculum Spectrum Curriculum

http://www.jahou.org/wg/SpCurWG/index_e.html

Jupiter Project

Paofits Curriculumhttp://paofits.dc.nao.ac.jp/index.html.en

Several school teachers actually make original astronomical curriculum.

There are many components for reorganized curriculum.

In after school activities

Jupiter Project Discover ISShttp://www1.hst.titech.ac.jp/club/sci_club/astronomy/ISSP/ISSP_index.htm

(Japanese Only)

etc

Approach after school activity

HOU in an elective subject An elective subject “Astronomy” is for Grade12 at Keio Senio

r High School . This course have been using HOU since 1998. Also elective subjects using HOU are opened at Kamogata Hig

h, Okayama Shoka University High, and so on.

Purpose

Learning astronomy with experience Doing astronomical observation

Research and writing article Oral speaking

2003Our school was appointed in a science education reinforcement school by government.(Super Science School = SSH)

A change of number of students

The applicants increase.

Many students experienced HOU.

Year Students Class(es)

1998 13 11999 14 12000 not open 02001 not open 02002 not open 02003 12 12004 18 12005 30 22006 70 32007 24 1

2007:drawing a lot

Effects of HOU

The understanding of the fits concept.

The understanding of the image processing.

HOU is suitable to develop the basics of research activities!

Some actual activities by high school students in Japan will

be present on Monday 　 (Day ４ 7/16).