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SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT FOR DELIVERY CLASSES IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN JAPAN

Abstract

Science Fair Projects were recently introduced to Japanese elementary and secondary schools to enhance creativity and the creative thinking skills of Japanese students. The authors of this paper prepared a unique textbook titled Science Fair Fun in Japan for this purpose. It was used in DELIVERY CLASSES (those taught by college faculty) by Suzuka National College of Technology in Japan to turn young students onto science and engineering through exciting science fair projects. The book is great for developing creative thinking and problem solving skills, which are needed by the Japanese society in order to remain a world competitor of the 21st century. This paper describes delivery classes, and discusses in detail the science fair project and its significance to Japan.

Introduction

Over the past few years, colleges and universities in Japan have been required to give DELIVERY CLASSES for secondary and elementary schools. A DELIVERY CLASS is a special class for elementary and secondary school students, provided by higher education teachers. It refers to an activity carried out or a lesson taught by college faculty to a class of young Japanese students. Two possibilities exist. Either the young students attend workshops at Japanese colleges and universities (where they experience the atmosphere of campus life) or the college faculty carry out the activities at the schools. Delivery class is called “DEMAE JUGYO” in Japanese. DEMAE means delivery, while JUGYOU means class.

The significance of delivery classes is to develop a good communication and collaboration between post secondary organizations like Suzuka National College of Technology and secondary / elementary schools. They can be used to transfer innovative views and philosophy to secondary and elementary school students and to promote science literacy. In the Japanese society there is a decreasing birthrate, so each educational organization in Japan is working hard to keep up enrollment and survive in the 21st century. The delivery classes are used to attract young students to a particular college, which leads to an increase in student enrollment at that college. Japanese national colleges of technology provide junior high graduates with five and seven year programs for associate and bachelor degrees in engineering fields. Therefore, the target of their delivery classes should be junior high schools and elementary schools. On the other hand universities in Japan, which provide programs for bachelor and graduate degrees, mainly attract high school students (Fig.1).

The authors of this paper published a special textbook (Science Fair Fun in Japan) to turn students onto science and engineering and prepare them to creatively solve problems, a necessary skill required for the Japanese society to remain a top competitor in the world. The book and its innovative teaching approach are used in delivery classes representing Suzuka

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Kanematsu, H., & Barry, D. (2006, June), Science Fair Project For Delivery Classes In Elementary And Secondary Schools And Its Significance In Japan Paper presented at 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois. 10.18260/1-2--257