Education Administration and the HypothesisExperiment Method Class in Japan
In Japan educational content and methods are regulated for elementary, middle, and high schools under a set scholastic guidance outline. For this reason, all schools in Japan, regardless of region, have the same curriculum and carry out classes using the same methods.
However ,this regulated curriculum is not realistically suitable for students. Consequently there are more than a few students who aren't able to keep up in class, grow to dislike studying, or grow to dislike school in general. Though the scholastic guidance outline is, as its name implies, merely a guide and not a requisite, it generally does govern education in the class room in actuality.
the HypothesisExperiment Method Class was developed without reference to the scholastic guidance outline, but as many educators are in accord with its theory and methods, it has been adopted in class. As one might expect, problems often arise when the method doesn't coincide with the scholastic guidance outline.
However, in many cases, these problems in fact don't arise. In the HypothesisExperiment Method Class, students are asked to give their opinions about the class at the end of the lesson. Only when students are amenable is this method used. When students don't stand behind it, it is discontinued. In the vast majority of classes students fully embrace the method and for this reason, it is possible to carry it out, progressing classes independently of the scholastic guidance outline. (It is estimated that out of the 1,000,000 elementary, middle and high school teachers 10,000 use this method in their classes.)
The HypothesisExperiment Method Class in High School Physics Education.
The HypothesisExperiment Method Class was started in elementary education. During its initial stages of research, it was thought by many to be too easy for high school students. However, when problems from the Lesson Assignment were given to the students, it became evident that there was no gap in understanding between elementary and high school students. Thus the practice of using the elementary school Lesson Assignment in the high school class was quite common. At the same time research was carried out to develop a Lesson Assignment specifically designed for high school students.
The HypothesisExperiment Method Class places great importance on discussion. Presently in Japanese high schools, however, students hardly participate in discussions. Since education in Japan has always been a system which instills a fear of making mistakes in students, they are apt to think along the lines of "I can't be caught saying the wrong thing."
