Professor Hiroshi ICHIKAWA from Japan Teikyo University Visted to ICI

Professor Hiroshi ICHIKAWA, dean of the faculty graduate school of Japan Teikyo University, made a lecture named Trends of Reform in Teacher Education in Japan: Nurturing High Professional Practical Abilities in 1613 on the afternoon of September 6. The lecture was chaired by director Professor Cui Yunhuo, and associate professor Shen Xiaomin translated.

Professor Hiroshi ICHIKAWA firstly introduced the history of teacher graduate schools in Japan after Second World War and analyzed the construction setting of the faculty graduate schools. Then he described the image of future teachers. Compared with other graduate schools for teachers or teacher training, the faculty graduate school focuses more on the combination of theory and practice, especially teachers’ practical abilities. And it also provides other guidance beyond major, like class and school management or character guide. Besides, 40% of its teachers have great deal of education experiences, and it also has much more cooperation with local schools and launch a five-year evaluation by independent organizations.

Next, Professor Hiroshi ICHIKAWA introduced some measures they took on curriculum development and instruction methods, which was used for training high professional practice abilities. For example, they developed some courses by combining medical and education. In terms of instruction methods, about 70% of the subjects employed cooperative teaching. Finally, he introduced some le specific methods in Lesson Study and Demo Class.

The audience were attracted by the fine and rigorous methods of Lesson Study. And the idea on teachers’ high professional practice abilities is inspirational to our exploration of professional development of teachers.