Science Education in Japan
Last night I have a very special opportunity to meet a colleague from Japan Prof. Dr. Masaki Matsukawa. Prof. Matsukawa is an Earth Scientist who is now involved in creating Science Education Opportunities for Japanese Science Teachers. From my short interaction with Prof. Matsukawa, I learned a lot of interesting things about Japanese teachers. For example, top 10% of Japanese students become future teachers. Being a teacher in Japan is a very prestigious job and only the best students get to become teachers. Isn’t it how it should be? I also learned that teachers are required to participate in long-term professional development opportunities and scientists and science educators are involved in creating these opportunities. I hope to have a chance to have more interactions with our Japanese colleagues. It was a very eye opening opportunity.
Grouse Mountain